Published Date: 2002-08-13 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/PL> Banana bunchy top virus, banana - Pakistan (Sindh)
Archive Number: 20020813.5035
BANANA BUNCHY TOP VIRUS, BANANA - PAKISTAN (SINDH)
*********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: 12 Aug 2002
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: The Frontier Post / APP [8 Aug 2002 2:45 PM] [edited]
<http://frontierpost.com.pk/business.asp?id=13&date1=8/8/2002>
The dangerous Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) has once again attacked banana
plants in lower Sindh, damaging its standing crop. M H Panhwar told APP
here Wednesday that the viral attack is currently on a small scale but
enough to cause sufficient damage to the banana crop.
Panhwar, a prominent agricultural scientist, said the virus is carried by
an aphid which survives on banana. Aphids containing the virus are carried
by the winds and die within 2 to 3 hours if they do not land on banana plants.
No banana is immune to BBTV and there is no cure for the disease. Panhwar
said that upper Sindh is saved from BBTV attack, as it cannot travel to
this area, nor would it survive in the cold climate of upper Sindh. Panhwar
also said affected banana plants should be sprayed with kerosene oil and
buried. He urged that banana farmers be provided with training to combat
the disease.
Panhwar said the banana crop used to cover an area of about 200 000 acres,
producing 600 000 metric tons of fruit in the province. Now the area has
been squeezed to one-third because of viral attacks in the past. He noted
that BBTV had damaged the entire crop in Sindh in 1991.
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[BBTV is one of 4 species in the genus Nanovirus; other species are Faba
bean necrotic yellows, Milk vetch dwarf and Subterranean clover stunt (type
species). A tentative species is Coconut foliar decay virus. The virus is
spread by the banana aphid (_Pentalonia nigronervosa_) and by infected
suckers or stools. The only hosts of the virus are species of _Musa_.
Useful references:
<http://life.bio2.edu/ICTVdB/00.093.0.01.002.htm>
- Mod.DH]
See Also
2001-----
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
*##########################################################*
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org
(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
human being send mail to: owner-majordomo@promedmail.org.
############################################################
############################################################