Molecular Virology, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow-226001.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the 16th Annual Convention and International Symposium of Indian Virological Society on “Management of Vector-Borne Viruses” at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru-502324, Hyderabad, India, February 7–10, 2006.
Banana (Musa paradisiaca) is monocotyledonous plant belong to the family Musaceae and one of the most important fruit crop, cultivated all over the world for its nutritive value. The production and quality of banana are greatly affected due to several diseases caused by various bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. Among viruses Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Banana streak virus (BSV) and Banana bract mosaic virus (BBMV) commonly infect banana. These diseases of banana are vertically transmitted through planting suckers. Although conventional control measures such as quarantine eradication and certified virus free stocks confirmed by ELISA has been used to reduce crop losses caused by these viruses, but they are not effective for controlling CMV and BBTV. Since RT-PCR and PCR diagnostics are based on use of specific primers capable of the amplification of the cDNA and DNA fragments of the genome of virus, hence they are very sensitive and reliable techniques. Therefore, we attempted RT-PCR/PCR based sensitive detection of BSV and BBTV severely infecting banana plantations using their specific primers. Molecular cloning and sequencing of coat protein gene of CMV isolate of banana and replicase gene of BBTV was successfully completed. The sequence data were submitted to Genbank under accession no: DQ152254 (CMV CP-Banana) and DQ104700 (BBTV Rep). The work aims to developing a simple and accurate means of rapid detection system in banana and to search of virus free propagating material of banana to be used for mass propagation or large-scale cultivation. The results of our findings will be discussed.
