The document summarizes bunchy top disease of bananas, which is caused by the banana virus 1. The disease forms a cluster of leaves at the plant's apex, stunting its growth and preventing fruit production. It is transmitted by the aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa. Symptoms include streaking on leaves and clustering at the top. Control measures include removing infected plants, controlling aphids with insecticides, using disease-free suckers, and restricting movement of banana plants and suckers between states. The disease is prevalent in several Indian states including Tamil Nadu.

1. Presented By
J.SAFRINA 18ZOO29
N.SWETHA 18ZOO39
V.VANISRI 18ZOO43
PLANT PATHOLOGY
E.M.G. Yadava Women’s College, Madurai-625014
An Autonomous Institution – Affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University
Re-accredited (3rd Cycle) with Grade A+ & CGPA 3.51 by NAAC
Dr. V. Vijaya
Assistant Professor of Botany
E.M.G. Yadava Women's College
Thirupplai, Madurai-14.
BUNCHY TOP DISEASE OF BANANA

2. Bunchy top Diseases of Banana
 Bunchy top of Banana is a most serious disease viral disease.
 It is caused by the virus Banana virus-I.
 The infected plant produces a cluster of leaves at the apex forming a
rosette in the diseased plant.
 The disease was first reported in Fiji Island during 1879, later the
disease was reported in Australia, Malaysia, Egypt and Sri Lanka.
 In India, it is prevalent in Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa,
Bihar, Assam and Tamil Nādu.
 In Tamil Nādu, it is very prevalent in Viruppatchia hill station near
Dindigul.

3. Symptoms
 Bunchy top of banana is caused by a virus, namely Bunchy top virus-1 (or)
Banana Virus-I or Musa virus-l.
 The virus is transmitted by the aphid vector called Pentalonia nigronervosa.
 The disease may occur at any stage of the plant.
 In the affected plants, leaves become bunched together at the top of the
pseudo stem to form a rosette appearance..
 The first external symptom is the appearance of irregular, brown streaks along
the secondary veins.
 The midrib portion on the undersurface of the leaf shows chlorotic streaks.
 Brown streaks are also produced on leaf petiole.
 The leaf size becomes smaller and narrow.

4. Symptoms
 In the diseased plant, leaves are clustered at the apex forming a
rosette.
 The infected plant shows stunted growth.
 Fruits are not usually produced in the diseased plants.
 The roots show decay.

5. Dissemination
 In the infected parts virus is present in all the parts including the rhizome and
the suckers.
 The aphid severs the virus in a feeding period of 24 hours and translocate
virus to the healthy plant.
 The aphid (vector) remains viruliferous for about 13 days, after the acquisition
of virus.
 The aphid usually attacks the host plant around the basal portion of the
Pseudo stem.
 The insect may carry the disease to long distances.

6. Control Measures
 The diseased plants should be thoroughly and carefully dug out with suckers and
destroyed by burning.
 The infected plants along with the aphids should be killed by pouring 50ml of
Kerosene over each plant.
 The virus particles can be killed by injecting the herbicides agrokone (or) 2,4-D
(2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) or MCPA (2-Methyl-1-4 chlorophenoxy acetic acid)
in the diseased plant.
 Disease free suckers or certified virus free suckers should be used for planting.
 Strict control on the entry of banana plants from other states and movement
of suckers within the state must be checked for infection.
 The Tamil Nadu Government has banned the cultivation of Viruppatchi
banana (malaivazhai) in Viruppatchi - a hill station near Dindigul.
 The Central Government has banned the movement of banana suckers from Kerala,
Orissa and West Bengal to other states for the purpose of preventing the spread of
bunchy top banana disease.

7. References:
1. https://agritech.tnau.ac.in › banana_diseases ›
2. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/insect-pests-and-plant-
diseases/bunchy-top

8. THANKYOU