PRO/PL> Banana bunchy-top disease - USA (HI)

[Brian Edmonds]

BANANA BUNCHY-TOP DISEASE - USA (HAWAII)
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Date: 20 Apr 2004
From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org>
Source: The Star Bulletin, 17 Apr 2004 [edited]
<http://starbulletin.com/2004/04/17/news/story9.html>

Banana disease confirmed on eastern Big Isle
Agriculture officials are examining the extent of the bunchy-top virus
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Banana bunchy-top virus (BBTV) has been confirmed for the 1st time on the 
Big Island's east side, the state's main banana-producing region.

The state Department of Agriculture is checking banana plants at Keaau 
Banana Plantation, one of the state's largest banana growers, and at 
surrounding banana farms to determine the extent of the disease, said Kyle 
Onuma, of the department's Hilo office.

Richard Ha, president of Keaau Banana Plantation, believes that about 35 
acres of Williams bananas on his 200-acre plantation might have the 
disease. Ha will meet with Agriculture Department and University of Hawaii 
experts on how to cope with the disease next week. "I think we can deal 
with it," he said.

According to state Agriculture Chairwoman Sandra Lee Kunimoto, if BBTV is 
found to be widespread in Keaau, it could severely impact the state's 
$8.4-million banana industry. Commercial banana plantings and plants in 
backyards will be  assessed by Department of Agriculture personnel to 
determine the extent of the problem.

BBTV stunts growth in the banana plant's crown, hence the bunchy 
appearance. Younger leaves might have yellowish, curling edges; and lower 
leaf stems and midribs might have streaks, blotches or a "Morse code" 
pattern, according to the Agriculture Department. Infected plants produce 
deformed and stunted fruit and eventually fail to produce fruit.

The disease is transmitted by banana aphids, and there is no known cure. 
Infected plants disease are treated for aphids and destroyed, Onuma said.

Since 1999 more than 175 000 banana plants have been eradicated in North 
Kona after BBTV was discovered there. The virus also is present on Kauai 
from Hanalei to Lawai; on Maui in Pukalani and Makawao; and is widespread 
on Oahu.

Sales figures for banana production in 2002, the most recent year for which 
figures were available, were: Big Island, 815 acres, $6.34 million;  Oahu, 
460 acres, $1.46 million; Maui, 85 acres, $330 000; and Kauai, 80 acres, 
$256 000.

Statewide production of bananas was 19.5 million pounds in 2002. Oahu 
production is less per acre than that of the Big Island because of BBTV, 
said agriculture spokeswoman Janelle Saneishi.

[Byline: Diana Leone]

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ProMED-mail
<promed at promedmail.org>

[BBTV is a member of the genus Nanovirus, not the genus Nanavirus named 
earlier. Other members are Faba bean necrotic yellows, Milk vetch dwarf and 
Subterranean clover stunt (type species). Their genomes consist of multiple 
circular ssDNAs of about 1 kb. BBTV, transmitted by the banana aphid 
(_Pentalonia nigronervosa_), is the most destructive viral disease of 
banana [_Musa x paridasiaca_, _M. acuminata_ and _M. textilis_, a 
Philippine plant known as abaca (Manila hemp)]. BBTV spreads in the African 
region and the Pacific region; Australia, Burundi, Egypt, Gabon, the 
Philippines, and Taiwan. BBTV epidemics of the disease have devastated many 
plantations in the Bicol Region of the Philippines for more than 50 years. 
Disease management involves eradication of diseased plants, planting of 
virus-free material, and heat treatment of infected tissue cultures to 
provide virus-free plantlets.

Useful references:
<http://www.agnet.org/library/article/eb418.html>
<http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-12.pdf>
<http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000010/28/0000102887.html>
- Mod.DH]

[see also:
2002
----
Banana bunchy top virus, banana - Pakistan (Sindh) 20020813.5035
2001
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Banana bunchy top nanovirus - New Caledonia (02) 20010516.0951
Banana bunchy top nanovirus - New Caledonia 20010510.0904
2000
----
Bunchy top virus - USA (Hawaii) 20000505.0688]
......................................mpp/dh/pg/dk

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