Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Banana bunchy top (121)

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Photo 1. Banana plants of different ages showing symptoms of Banana bunchy top virus disease. Notice the stunted plants and the colour of the leaves, which are pale yellow at the margins.

Photo 2. Symptoms of Banana bunchy top virus. Notice the leaves are upright, stunted and tend to cluster in the throat of the plant; leaves like this are said to be "choked", and give the bunchy top symptom.

Photo 3. Underside of a banana leaf showing veins that have dark and light areas (dots and dashes) along them. The veins near the midrib bend down,"hooking" into it.

Photo 4. Colony of the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa. Note the dark colour of the adults and the nymphs. The dark veins of the winged adults can just be seen on the insect at the top left corner.

Summary

• Widespread distribution. Asia, Africa, Oceania. On bananas and other Musa species. BBT is caused by a virus. It is spread by aphids, and in suckers for planting. Major losses occur in 2-3 years.
• Dark-green dots and dashes along leaf veins (insert).
• Cultural control: regular monitoring and removal of plants as soon as BBT seen: (i) kill aphids: spray with kerosene or insecticide; (ii) dig out the matt or kill the plant with herbicide (e.g., glyphosate).
• Chemical control: to kill aphids on diseased plants only, (i) bananas for home – use soap, white or horticultural oils (or kerosene); (ii) commercial plantations – use synthetic pyrethroids. Note, chemicals will not prevent spread of BBT.

Common Name

Banana bunchy top

Scientific Name

Banana bunchy top nanavirus. The abbreviatiion is BBTV.

This mini fact sheet is a part of the app Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

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