<p>Banana bunchy top (BBT) is the most important debilitating viral disease and makes the plants absolutely unproductive (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib002">Ashaq <italic>et al</italic>., 1996</xref>). Banana aphid (<italic>Pentalonia nigronervosa</italic> Coq.) is the main transmitting agent of the disease. In present investigation, an attempt was made to know the status of the bunchy top disease in and around Kanpur district, and to find out the newer chemicals, which can detect the BBTV infected banana plants.</p><p>A survey was conducted at University campus, Sarsoul and Udanga Khera villages of Kanpur during 2005–2006 for the occurrence of BBT. The infected samples showing characteristic symptoms were collected from different locations and brought to the laboratory for the confirmation of the causative virus associated with these suspected samples of banana.</p><p>Different chemicals (MgCl<sub>2</sub>, FeCl<sub>3</sub>, NaCl, NH<sub>4</sub>Cl, Copper oxychloride, TZC, KCl and HgCl<sub>2</sub>) were tested for differentiating the infected and healthy plant samples. Three different concentrations (0.5, 1.0 & 1.5%) of the chemicals were prepared. Two ml of each chemical was poured in two different wells in polystyrene plates for healthy and infected plant samples. About 5 mm pieces (7–8) of midribs were dipped in chemicals. The observations were made at four different time intervals (30, 60, 90 min. & overnight) to observe the change in tissue colour.</p><p>The top leaves of the plant were bunched up with yellow fringes and stood erect. The plants were having short, erect leaves, severe resetting and a pronounced bunchy top appearance. These bunchy top symptoms were observed usually more visible on young plants and were subtler on older banana plants. The series of dark green “dots and dashes” were observed along veins in BBTV infected leaf midrib, petiole and pseudostem. The waxy white coating that covers the petiole or midrib was rubbed away to show the streaks easily (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib001">Akram & Kumar, 2006</xref>).</p><p>The average disease incidence (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab001">Table 1</xref>) was found 26.9%. The highest disease incidence was found 41.7% in University campus followed by Vill. Sarsaul (20.5%) and Vill. Udanga Khera (7.1%). Thiribhuvanamala <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib003">2001</xref>) also observed the disease incidence up to 26% in Tamil Nadu. <table-wrap id="tab001"><label>Table 1</label><caption><p>Per cent disease incidence of BBTV at different locations during 2005–2006</p></caption><table><thead><tr><th>Location</th><th align="center">Total No. of plant observed</th><th align="center">No. of BBTV infected (suspected) plants</th><th align="center">% disease incidence</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">CSAUA & T Campus</td><td align="center" valign="top">798</td><td align="center" valign="top">333</td><td align="center" valign="top">41.7</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Vill. Sarsoul, Distt. Kanpur</td><td align="center" valign="top">277</td><td align="center" valign="top">57</td><td align="center" valign="top">20.5</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Vill. Sarsoul, Distt. Kanpur</td><td align="center" valign="top">452</td><td align="center" valign="top">83</td><td align="center" valign="top">18.3</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Vill. Udanga Khera, Distt. Kanpur</td><td align="center" valign="top">309</td><td align="center" valign="top">22</td><td align="center" valign="top">7.1</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Total</td><td align="center" valign="top">1836</td><td align="center" valign="top">495</td><td align="center" valign="top">26.9</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap></p><p>The samples (mid rib tissues) taken from plants having distinct bunchy top symptoms dipped in chemicals, out of these only two chemicals TZC and HgCl<sub>2</sub> able to produce some remarkable change in tissues of infected banana plants. The infected samples dipped in TZC were showed light brick red colour in 60 min., which became darker after 90 min. Both healthy and infected plant samples developed colour in overnight observation in TZC. The infected plant samples also gave light blackish colour after 90 min. and overnight when dipped in 0. 5% HgCl<sub>2</sub>. But after overnight healthy plant samples did not show any change in colour in HgCl<sub>2</sub> at 0.5%. Verma and Singh (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib004">1994</xref>) used clerodendrum leaf extract spray to reduce viral infection on mungbean. In present study, it was observed that the chemicals TZC and HgCl<sub>2</sub> were found suitable for the detection of the virus, but further confirmative test of the colour in infected banana samples are needed before final recommendation.</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References

APPS

Annals of Plant Protection Sciences

0971-3573

Society of Plant Protection Sciences

apps-15-1-072

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Occurrence and Detection of Banana Bunchy Top Virus

Kumar

Rajesh

Akram

Mohd.

Department of Plant Pathology, C. S. Azad Univ. of Agri. & Tech., Kanpur-208 002, India.

32007

151263264

<p>Banana bunchy top (BBT) is the most important debilitating viral disease and makes the plants absolutely unproductive (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib002">Ashaq <italic>et al</italic>., 1996</xref>). Banana aphid (<italic>Pentalonia nigronervosa</italic> Coq.) is the main transmitting agent of the disease. In present investigation, an attempt was made to know the status of the bunchy top disease in and around Kanpur district, and to find out the newer chemicals, which can detect the BBTV infected banana plants.</p><p>A survey was conducted at University campus, Sarsoul and Udanga Khera villages of Kanpur during 2005–2006 for the occurrence of BBT. The infected samples showing characteristic symptoms were collected from different locations and brought to the laboratory for the confirmation of the causative virus associated with these suspected samples of banana.</p><p>Different chemicals (MgCl<sub>2</sub>, FeCl<sub>3</sub>, NaCl, NH<sub>4</sub>Cl, Copper oxychloride, TZC, KCl and HgCl<sub>2</sub>) were tested for differentiating the infected and healthy plant samples. Three different concentrations (0.5, 1.0 & 1.5%) of the chemicals were prepared. Two ml of each chemical was poured in two different wells in polystyrene plates for healthy and infected plant samples. About 5 mm pieces (7–8) of midribs were dipped in chemicals. The observations were made at four different time intervals (30, 60, 90 min. & overnight) to observe the change in tissue colour.</p><p>The top leaves of the plant were bunched up with yellow fringes and stood erect. The plants were having short, erect leaves, severe resetting and a pronounced bunchy top appearance. These bunchy top symptoms were observed usually more visible on young plants and were subtler on older banana plants. The series of dark green “dots and dashes” were observed along veins in BBTV infected leaf midrib, petiole and pseudostem. The waxy white coating that covers the petiole or midrib was rubbed away to show the streaks easily (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib001">Akram & Kumar, 2006</xref>).</p><p>The average disease incidence (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab001">Table 1</xref>) was found 26.9%. The highest disease incidence was found 41.7% in University campus followed by Vill. Sarsaul (20.5%) and Vill. Udanga Khera (7.1%). Thiribhuvanamala <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib003">2001</xref>) also observed the disease incidence up to 26% in Tamil Nadu. <table-wrap id="tab001"><label>Table 1</label><caption><p>Per cent disease incidence of BBTV at different locations during 2005–2006</p></caption><table><thead><tr><th>Location</th><th align="center">Total No. of plant observed</th><th align="center">No. of BBTV infected (suspected) plants</th><th align="center">% disease incidence</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">CSAUA & T Campus</td><td align="center" valign="top">798</td><td align="center" valign="top">333</td><td align="center" valign="top">41.7</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Vill. Sarsoul, Distt. Kanpur</td><td align="center" valign="top">277</td><td align="center" valign="top">57</td><td align="center" valign="top">20.5</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Vill. Sarsoul, Distt. Kanpur</td><td align="center" valign="top">452</td><td align="center" valign="top">83</td><td align="center" valign="top">18.3</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Vill. Udanga Khera, Distt. Kanpur</td><td align="center" valign="top">309</td><td align="center" valign="top">22</td><td align="center" valign="top">7.1</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Total</td><td align="center" valign="top">1836</td><td align="center" valign="top">495</td><td align="center" valign="top">26.9</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap></p><p>The samples (mid rib tissues) taken from plants having distinct bunchy top symptoms dipped in chemicals, out of these only two chemicals TZC and HgCl<sub>2</sub> able to produce some remarkable change in tissues of infected banana plants. The infected samples dipped in TZC were showed light brick red colour in 60 min., which became darker after 90 min. Both healthy and infected plant samples developed colour in overnight observation in TZC. The infected plant samples also gave light blackish colour after 90 min. and overnight when dipped in 0. 5% HgCl<sub>2</sub>. But after overnight healthy plant samples did not show any change in colour in HgCl<sub>2</sub> at 0.5%. Verma and Singh (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib004">1994</xref>) used clerodendrum leaf extract spray to reduce viral infection on mungbean. In present study, it was observed that the chemicals TZC and HgCl<sub>2</sub> were found suitable for the detection of the virus, but further confirmative test of the colour in infected banana samples are needed before final recommendation.</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>ReferencesAkram

Kumar

(2006) Banana bunchy top disease: field diagnosis and management. Indian Farming, 56: 12–14.Ashaq

Mohd.

Mantoo

M.S.

Shah

N.H.

Naqvi

Q.A.

(1996) Occurrence of broad bean bushy dwarf virus strains in U.P. Ann. Pl. Protec. Sci., 4: 76–79.Thiribhuvanamala

Doraisamy

Sabitha

Doraisamy

(2001) Survey for important virus diseases of banana. Madras Agri. J., 88: 148–149.Verma

Alpna

Singh

R.B.

(1994) Clerodendrum acubatum - A possible prophylectic agent against natural viral infection in mung bean. Ann. Pl. Protec. Sci., 2: 60–63.