Banana bunchy top virus

[rainyjim]

robguz,

I presume you are talking about Gabe.

I'm unsure of Gros Michel's resistance to BBTV, but regardless it is extremely susceptible to panama wilt disease so not really an option anyways as f. oxysporum is everywhere on the island and management is nearly impossible. Not to mention germplasm isn't readily available nowadays either due to the aforementioned.

While I agree that genetic engineering could eventually provide solutions for BBTV, you should know it is not the only answer.

In Australia through meticulous application of quarantine procedures they have enabled their banana industry to not only bounce back from previous losses to BBTV but also once again thrive.

There are a lot of reasons why the quarantine procedure works in Australia but would be difficult to execute in Hawaii, but that is not to say it isn't doable if tried.

[robguz]

There was some attempt to pass Australia-like legislation in Hawaii years ago but it didn't go anywhere. It's not going to happen here, for a number of reasons, the largest being political will. Yep, I'm referring to Gabe and his research. If you know Gabe I'm sure he'd share his thesis if you're interested. It's a very interesting read!

I have 4 Gros MIchel variants (Highgate, original, and 2 others that are probably cocos and lowgate) and 2 Gros Michel hybrids (FHIA-17 & 23) and none have ever gotten Panama disease. I had one silk fig that did years ago, so that means it's on my property. Nematodes and corm weevils are much bigger problems for me. Gros Michel Highgate (which is my least favorite true Gros Michel cultivar) was available for a few years from UH Manoa so it isn't as rare as some others. Gros Michel's are famously susceptible to Panama disease, but they have more resistance than some others, such as any in the silk group. I sell 2 of the GMs and both FHIA keikis as long as customers know for certain they're in bunchy top areas. So for none of my GMs or hybrids have shown signs of bunchy top either.

Forgot to mention that Mysore is another that seems less susceptible to bunchy top than most. It's one of the best tasting too.

[laurarice]

My neighbor in Hilo had BBTV . Being a newbie I did not know what it was and planted several bananas which all succumbed.
But there appear to be some plantains [although the fruits are small] right over the property line that thrive without care and have not gotten BBTV in 5 years. Are plantains not susceptible?
Also if heliconia does not show symptoms, does that indicate it is not infected?
How would you sanitize before moving it to an area currently apparently free of the disease?

Laura

[robguz]

Susceptibility varies by cultivar. With small fruit they don't sound like plantains, which aren't necessarily more resistant anyway. Lack of symptoms doesn't mean lack of infection unfortunately in bananas or heliconia.

You can't really sanitize, but if the new area is truly free of the disease, only get plants from others who can guarantee they don't have bunchy top on their property or ideally, even nearby. Tissue cultured plants (sometimes available at Home Depot and Garden Exchange) are less likley to be infected, though if sitting on shelves somewhere for weeks they could become infected. Inspect any banana plants you buy to make sure they have no aphids. You'll have to pull back the leaves from the "trunk" some to make sure.