Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) detection
Copyright Scot Nelson
The most economically important disease of banana is banana bunchy top disease, caused by Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Plants infected by BBTV may completely fail to produce fruit.
The most distinctive symptom of BBTV is the characteristic “morse-code” pattern that is formed by dark green streaking of veins in the leaf lamina, midribs and petioles, or dark red streaks in the floral bracts.
The global spread of BBTV is primarily done via the distribution of infected planting material such as suckers and corms. The banana aphid is responsible for local transmission of BBTV. Aphids to become infective require, at least, 12 hours of feeding on BBTV-infected plants. To transmit the virus, infective banana aphids need at least 1.5 hours of feeding on susceptible plants. The virus remains in the aphid vector, but is not passed to the insect progeny.
Available kits for the detection of BBTV
Reagent set
For Triple Antibody Sandwich (TAS) ELISA
To use in plant foliage.
Conjugate antibodies
Polyclonal
Only SRA (TAS Triple Antibody Sandwich -ELISA)
Detection or coating antibodies
Monoclonal with Anti-animal conjugate
Only SRA (TAS Triple Antibody Sandwich -ELISA)
Positive and negative controls are available.