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Archive Number 20090727.2643
Published Date 27-JUL-2009
Subject PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, banana - Malaysia (02)
UNDIAGNOSED DISEASE, BANANA - MALAYSIA (02)
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Date: Wed 22 July 2009
From: Ivan Buddenhagen <iwbuddenhagen@ucdavis.edu>


Re: appearance of a new banana disease in Malaysia near Jasin, Melaka state
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Although few details are given, I believe this is the appearance of 
blood disease, a bacterial disease, from across the strait in 
Sumatra. This disease is transmitted readily by insects (bees, wasps) 
from male bud to male bud. It is epidemic in varieties used to make 
chips and in Pisang awak [PA; banana cultivar]. Internally, the fruit 
becomes reddish to black and is inedible. The disease may be halted 
from spread by breaking off the male buds just after the fruit hands emerge.

In terms of political countries, this would be the 1st appearance of 
blood disease outside Indonesia. But in terms of recent spread, it is 
"new" to all the big Indonesian islands. It arrived in South Sumatra 
only about 15 years ago and has spread 1600 km [994 mi] northward all 
the way to Aceh.

I have predicted for some time that it would jump to the Malayan 
peninsula. It needs a chain of susceptible clones, Saba types and PA, 
to become a mobile epidemic. If it should reach Thailand where PA is 
dominant, it would be devastating there. Efforts should be made to 
eradicate this reported outbreak. I hope something will be done.

[Reference
-----------
I Buddenhagen: Blood bacterial wilt of banana: history, field biology 
and solution. Chronica Horticulturae 2009, 49 (2). Abstract available 
at <http://www.actahort.org/books/828/828_4.htm>.]

--
Ivan Buddenhagen
Professor Emeritus
University of California, Davis
USA
<iwbuddenhagen@ucdavis.edu>

[Blood disease of banana (BD) was first reported in 1905 from a small 
island south of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Today it causes major decline of 
banana and plantain throughout the country. In 2005, 3 million plants 
in Indonesia were affected with an estimated crop loss of over 60 000 
tonnes. 'Pisang awak', one of the hardiest and most widely 
distributed bananas, is highly susceptible to BD, while 'P kepok,' a 
plantain variety (identified earlier by Prof Buddenhagen), is highly 
resistant and may prove useful in BD resistance breeding programmes. 
The spread of BD is considered a threat to food supplies for 
Thailand, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, as well as countries in 
Africa and Latin America.

BD as well as the other bacterial wilts of banana known as Moko and 
Bugtok, are caused by members of the _R. solanacearum_ species 
complex. _R. s._ is a heterogeneous species, which has been divided 
into 4 phylotypes (genetic groups). Strains causing Moko and Bugtok 
belong to phylotype II, the blood disease bacterium to phylotype IV. 
The pathogens can be clearly distinguished by their host range and 
other biological and biochemical properties.

_R. solanacearum_ has also been classified into various races and 
biovars affecting more than 200 plant species including major crops. 
Race 2 attacks banana and plantain, brown rot of potato is associated 
with race 3. The bacteria may be spread by mechanical means, water 
splash, infected plant material and insects.

Our sincere thanks are due to Prof Buddenhagen for this plausible 
suggestion of a possible cause of the banana disease that appears to 
be emerging in south-western Malaysia. Confirmation by molecular 
methods would be needed for a conclusive diagnosis.

Maps
Malaysia:
<http://www.malaysia-maps.com/images/map-malaysia-main-states.gif>
<http://healthmap.org/r/00Bo>
Asia, overview:
<http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/as.htm>

Pictures of banana blood disease symptoms:
<http://www.padil.gov.au/img.aspx?id=3871&s=s> (whole plant),
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jsDi86zSP9Q/RzKdtPXvVCI/AAAAAAAAAK0/1JFTrInQG24/s320/Blood+disease+banana+cut+open+poss.jpg> 
(pseudostem), and
<http://www.globalplantclinic.org/images/Bacteria_banana_(Eric).jpg> (fruit)

Links
Information on banana blood disease:
<http://www.padil.gov.au/viewPestDiagnosticImages.aspx?id=479> and
<http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/pdf/127.pdf>
Diagnosis of the blood disease bacterium:
<http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AP03039.htm>
Blood disease resistant P kepok variety, press release:
<http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2007/nov/g49.asp?print=true>
Information on P awak:
<http://minaturalezamuerta.blogspot.com/2007/07/pisang-awak.html>
Description and taxonomy of _R. solanacearum_:
<http://expasy.org/sprot/hamap/RALSO.html>,
<http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/genomes/bacteria/Ralstonia_solanacearum.html>, and
<http://www.bspp.org.uk/publications/molecular-plant-pathology/pathprofiles/pathprofile15.htm>. 
- Mod.DHA]

[see also:
Undiagnosed disease, banana - Malaysia: (ME, JH) RFI 20090716.2532
2008
----
Undiagnosed disease, banana - Malaysia: (JH), RFI 20081215.3937
2007
----
Moko, Bugtok, blood diseases, banana: research 20070513.1524]
...................................dha/mj/mpp

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