Banana Xanthomonas wilt: a review of the disease, management strategies and future research directions
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Date
2007-03
Authors
Biruma, Moses
Pillay, Michael
Tripathi, Leena
Blomme, Guy
Abele, Steffen
Mwangi, Maina
Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit
Muchunguzi, Perez
Kassim, Sadik
Nyine, Moses
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Biotechnology
Abstract
Banana production in Eastern Africa is threatened by the presence of a new devastating bacterial
disease caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (formerly Xanthomonas campestris pv.
musacearum). The disease has been identified in Uganda, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,
Rwanda and Tanzania. Disease symptoms include wilting and yellowing of leaves, excretion of a yellowish
bacterial ooze, premature ripening of the bunch, rotting of fruit and internal yellow discoloration
of the vascular bundles. Plants are infected either by insects through the inflorescence or by soil-borne
bacterial inoculum through the lower parts of the plant. Short- and long-distance transmission of the
disease mainly occurs via contaminated tools and insects, though other organisms such as birds may
also be involved. Although no banana cultivar with resistance to the disease has been identified as yet,
it appears that certain cultivars have mechanisms to ‘escape’ the disease. Management and control of
the disease involve methods that reduce the inoculum’s density and spread of the pathogen. Removal
of the male bud (de-budding) has proven to be very effective in preventing the disease incidence since
the male bud appears to be the primary infection site. The economic impact of banana Xanthomonas
wilt is not fully understood but its impact on food security in the region is very significant. While
germplasm screening for the disease is ongoing, efforts to genetically engineer resistance in some
banana cultivars are also making good progress. This paper presents a review of the disease and
management strategies that have been successful in curtailing its spread
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Banana, Xanthomonas wilt, disease management, future strategies
Citation
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (8), pp. 953-962, 16 April 2007