African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of environment and cultivar on the expression of banana streak disease symptoms in Kenya

  Laura Karanja1*, Anne Wangai2, Ram Sumer Pathak3 and Glyn Harper4      
  1Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Njoro, P.O. Njoro, Kenya. 2Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Biotechnology Program, P.O. Box 14733, NARL, Nairobi, Kenya. 3Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soil, Egerton University P.O. Njoro, Kenya. 4Department of Disease and Stress Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.  
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 02 April 2010
  •  Published: 17 April 2013

Abstract

 

Banana (Musa spp.) is grown for subsistence and income generation by 80% of small scale farmers all year round in Kenya hence it is an important food security crop. However viral diseases such as banana streak disease (BSD), caused by Banana streak virus, hamper the production of the crop. BSV has been reported to be present in all the commercial banana cultivars in Kenya. Tissue culture materials of 15 cultivars were evaluated for BSV expression so as to determine the tolerant cultivars under field and greenhouse conditions and stages of disease expression. A number of factors including plant age, cultivar, season and growth site were investigated in the greenhouse and field to assess their effect on BSD symptom expression. Statistical analysis system (SAS) for ANOVA was used for analysis of data for the experiments. Results indicated that BSD symptom expression is significantly influenced by all the factors under investigation. Significant correlation was also observed between symptom severity and plant height, girth, and number of leaves. Findings of this study will be invaluable to stakeholders and researchers in banana industry by laying a foundation for development and adoption of viable BSD management strategies.

 

Key words: Banana streak virus, Banana streak disease, symptoms expression, tissue culture, ELISA.