Properties of Banana Spray Oils in Relation to Sigatoka Disease Control and Phytotoxicity on Banana Leaves

Abstract

The properties of banana spray oils have been investigated by a number of researchers. The results of these investigations are reviewed in this paper, and include information on volatility (distillation range, flash point); flow characteristics (viscosity, pour point); other physical properties (specific gravity, colour, aniline point); and chemical properties (unsulphonated mineral residues, aromatics, paraffins and naphthenes).

A comparison of distillation curves is of greater significance than comparison of individual boiling points. Such a comparison will show whether any one oil product is a homogeneous oil or a mixture of heavy and light oils. Disease control is closely related to volatility of the spray oil; the lower the volatility of the oil the better the disease control. Phytotoxicity (leaf-flecking) increases as the percentage volatility of the spray oil decreases. Oil volatility governs the amount of oil remaining on the leaf after application. The initial amount of oil applied to the leaf is of less significance in the fungistatic effect than is the amount of oil remaining on or in the leaf. From a viewpoint of Sigatoka disease control, flash points are of little significance, but must be considered from the viewpoint of safety in storage, transportation and use.

As the viscosity of spray oils increases in the range 35-100 Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) at 100ddot]F] disease incidence decreases and phytotoxicity increases on sprayed banana leaves. The naphthenic oils are superior to the paraffinic oils, particularly in the viscosity range of 75-85 SUS at 100ddot]F, for spraying bananas.

The performance of banana spray oils is related to the proportions of the major hydrocarbon groups (aromatics, naphthenes and paraffins) present in the oil. Properties such as specific gravity and aniline point are indicative of the proportions of the major hydrocarbon groups in a spray oil.

Colour of mineral oils is of no significance in the control of Sigatoka disease. Light mineral oils with unsulphonated mineral residue (U.M.R.) in the range of 70-99.9 are equally effective in Sigatoka disease control regardless of U.M.R. However, the degree of leaf damage (phytotoxicity) is directly related to U.M.R. value. The oils of high U.M.R. cause the least damage. The aromatic fraction of four spray oils tested (heavy paraffinic, light paraffinic, heavy naphthenic and light naphthenic) caused abundant phytotoxicity at a deposit level of 3 US gal/ac. There was little or no phytotoxicity and no appreciable disease control at a deposit level of 1.5 US gal/ac. Paraffinic and naphthenic oils of comparable U.M.R. value (94-95%) and viscosity (74-75 SUS at 100ddot]F) provide good disease control within the deposit range 1.4-2.1 US gal/ac. At these deposit levels the naphthenic oil causes only 20 and 50% respectively as much phytotoxic flecking as the paraffinic oil. Photosynthesis is inhibited by the application of petroleum oil to banana leaves.

It is the opinion of the writer that a long-term trial (a minimum of two years) should be conducted to evaluate the effect of a comparable naphthenic and paraffinic oil on Sigatoka disease control and banana yield.