Pre-Harvest Finger Rot of Cavendish Banana (<em>Musa acuminate</em>) Reported from Moneragala and Badulla Districts, Sri Lanka: Identification and Confirmation of Pathogenicity of the Causal Agent

The present study was conducted to identify and confirm the pathogenicity of causal agent a wet finger rot Cavendish banana, newly reported pre-harvest disease in commercial plantations Moneragala Badulla districts Sri Lanka. Bacterial species were isolated from banana fingers at three stages symptom development: initial, middle, late. Isolated bacterial colonies inoculated healthy mature by two methods, namely peel pulp inoculation, Koch’s postulates. Re-isolated isolates showing typical symptoms identified biochemical tests subjected PCR amplification using universal primers bacteria, B27F/1492R. Subsequent DNA sequencing products homology search pathogen as strain Dickeya dadantii. Phylogenetic analysis with selected spp. sequences available databases that D. dadantii groups 3937 (CP002038.1), which complete genome has been sequenced. Cross infection studies revealed isolate is more virulent on variety Anamalu than terms days taken develop symptoms. findings confirmed its pathogenicity.