Banana viruses eradication and production of banana virus-free by using modern techniques

Abstract

Banana was one of the most important fi•uit in Egypt and cultivated in wide areas. In 1996, banana production exceeded to 512.5 thousand metric tons and the average crop was I 1.27 & 13.71-tons/ feddan as a result of cultivation of new varieties high in production.

Banana was susceptible to viral disease, so, much effort in producing a banana crop was directed at controlling such disease. ln the present study we focused on banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) which caused by banana bunchy top virus (BB'I'V) and banana mosmc disease CBMD) \Vhich caused by banana mosaic virus (BMV). • The present work aimed to study the isolation of 13J3TV and BMY via studying the biological properties. Include the symptoms, mode oftransmission; serological detection of the two viruses using DAS-ELISA & Dot- ELISA techniques; histochemical detection using the stain triphenyl tetrazolium chloride; histopathological changes in the infected cells; the usage PCR to detect viruses and mutation in plants resulted fi•om tissue culture was also studied.

The results revealed that the first symptoms of banana infected with BBTV were dark green streaks on the lower portions of the midrib of the banana leaf, the fresh infected leaves were brittle, reduced in the size and gather at the top of plant making a rosetting shape. The symptoms of Bl'v1V were characterized by a conspicuous interveinal chlorosis of the leaves. Common observation of infected plants was stunted growth and low yield. In severe cases this was accompanied by rotting of the heart leaf and central cylinder.

It was noticed that BBTV could be mcchanicHily transmitted via syringe to some host plants as Camw sp., which exhibited mosaic symptoms after 20 days.