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Kostas
07-23-2011, 04:34 PM
Hello,

As some of you may remember,after the winter,my Ice Cream grew 2 leaf and then ceased growth. At some point later it produced two pups and when these grew 2 leafs,the first of the 2 leaf produced by the mother plant this year,began getting black ''burns'' that ended up as black stripes along the leaf veins,some of which were clearly just between 2 leaf veins. Then,suddenly,both pups produced a leaf with well defined patterning on the leaf veins consisting of darker and lighter colored ''squares'' on each individual leaf vein. One of the leafs even got some necrotic spots along the leaf veins. All these seem too suspicious and like BSV for some reason got activated. What do you think? Here are some photos taken today:

Whole mat
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3058a.jpg

Bigger pup's leafs
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3059a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3060a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3061a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3062a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3063a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3064a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3065a.jpg

Smaller pup's leafs
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3066a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3067a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3071a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3072a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3073a.jpg

Motherplant
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3068a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3069a.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/IMG_3070a.jpg

Does the above plant has BSV as the symptoms seem to indicate to me at least? I would really appreciate your help!

Thank you very much in advance!

Kostas
09-02-2011, 11:07 AM
Hello,

I thought i would update this thread in case it helps determine what my Ice Cream has. Well,after all these months,my Ice Cream is pretty much the same,with the pups having grown a single leaf each at best and the leafs not looking right. The motherplant has now died to the ground. Here are some leaf close ups from today. Both pups have the same pattern on their leafs and both look sickly and grow extremely slow.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/DSC03799.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/DSC03800.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/DSC03801.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/DSC03802.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/DSC03803.jpg

What does my Ice Cream has? Is it a disease?

Thank you very much in advance! :)

Gabe15
09-02-2011, 12:27 PM
It does not look like BSV, and normally ABB bananas (or any banana with 2 or more M. balbisiana chromosome sets) do not show BSV symptoms.

'Mysore' with BSV symptoms.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45483&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45483&ppuser=5)

'Obino l'Ewa' (right) with BSV symptoms.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45484&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45484&ppuser=5)

Kostas
09-02-2011, 12:41 PM
Thank you very much for your reply Gabe! :)

What makes my Ice Cream look so sickly and grow soooo slowly then?

What are the symptoms the above bananas are expressing which indicate BSV?

Thank you very much in advance! :)

sandy0225
09-02-2011, 12:46 PM
I'd say your ice cream banana doesn't like its' soil conditions. Either the soil is compacted, too poor, or not well draining. Is it in a lot of clay? or a place close to the house where maybe some construction equipment would have been driven through there and destroyed the air spaces in the soil.

Kostas
09-02-2011, 04:34 PM
Thank you very much for your reply Sandy! :)

My Ice Cream was planted last year on May on a mound of peat based cactus soil which supposedly is well draining,over a base of clay soil,which is what the soil of my garden basically is. It certainly does not suffer from overwatering,it may actually be a little underwatered but dont know. I have increased its watering a few days now and we will see but i was more thinking of it as ill than unhappy. I have fertilized it very well,both in spring and early summer and it didnt respond to it. If disease can certainly be ruled out,i will try babying it some more as i had somewhat neglected it after the strange looking leafs it put out and its extremely slow growth....

Thank you very much in advance!

Kostas
10-11-2011, 05:41 AM
Hello,

I have a suspicious looking Mysore i would like your opinion about. It grew normal looking leafs at first after establishing but then it grew a leaf with lighter/yellow colored stripes parallel to the leaf veins and has since been producing leafs like that,with varying amount of striping. The last leaf seems mostly normal but anyway,i would really like your opinion on wether this is BSV,another disease or just cultural that will go away.
Here are the pictures:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/7d991fbc.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/8305d88f.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/0c5f8f14.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/744dc498.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/15fc871e.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/d9bc0872.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/a1f3a4f6.jpg


Thank you very much in advance! :)

Kostas
10-31-2011, 11:46 AM
Please,have a look and let me know what the problem with the above banana(Mysore) is. I will soon have to move it to my basement for overrwintering and need to know if thats a virus or not. I wouldn't like risking my other bananas. Also,if thats a virus,I will need to search for a healthy replacement and need to know that.

I really appreciate your expert help!

Thank you very much in advance! :)

sunfish
10-31-2011, 12:11 PM
Hello,

I have a suspicious looking Mysore i would like your opinion about. It grew normal looking leafs at first after establishing but then it grew a leaf with lighter/yellow colored stripes parallel to the leaf veins and has since been producing leafs like that,with varying amount of striping. The last leaf seems mostly normal but anyway,i would really like your opinion on wether this is BSV,another disease or just cultural that will go away.
Here are the pictures:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/7d991fbc.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/8305d88f.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/0c5f8f14.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/744dc498.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/15fc871e.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/d9bc0872.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/Kostas_G/Bananas/a1f3a4f6.jpg


Thank you very much in advance! :)

Do you have any more pix :ha:

Kostas
10-31-2011, 12:26 PM
Sorry for including them all but none was clear enough to demonstrate the problem well and hoped that with many to look at,you would be able to see all the details there are to see and help with diagnosis :)
Seriously now,I have no more pictures and this banana only grew one more leaf with a good part of it necrotic,probably due to cool or even cold weather prevailing a week or two ago.

sunfish
10-31-2011, 12:29 PM
Sorry for including them all but none was clear enough to demonstrate the problem well and hoped that with many to look at,you would be able to see all the details there are to see and help with diagnosis :)
Seriously now,I have no more pictures and this banana only grew one more leaf with a good part of it necrotic,probably due to cool or even cold weather prevailing a week or two ago.

Just kiddin ya! :nanadrink:

venturabananas
11-01-2011, 01:11 PM
Looks like Banana Streak Virus to me, but I am no expert. I've read that most Mysore accessions have the virus. Pisang Ceylon is one that does not. I have 4 Mysore group plants: Pisang Ceylon, Pisang Klotek, Mysore, and something obtained as FHIA 2 (Mona Lisa) but which is clearly a Mysore of some sort. The first two have no streaking, the second two have streaking as bad or worse than what you have. The ones without streaking have been growing faster for me than the two with streaking. I don't think the BSV virus can be spread in my environment, but I will probably get rid of the two Mysores with the streaks, if for no other reason than they aren't as hardy as the two without the streaks. I'm sure yours will be fine, but if you can get a Pisang Ceylon, it'll probably be hardier.

Kostas
11-01-2011, 01:52 PM
No problem Tony! :)

Thank you very much for your reply Mark! :)
Mine grows at an ok pace,i cant say its much slower if at all so far.
I do have Pisang Ceylon and Pisang Klotek as well and love them both! I really like Mysore group cultivars and so i would like to have as many of this group as possible,including a healthy ''Mysore''. If what mine has is indeed BSV,i will have to search for a healthy replacement unfortunately...

Does anyone have or has seen a totally healthy Mysore mat?

sunfish
11-01-2011, 02:04 PM
No problem Tony! :)

Thank you very much for your reply Mark! :)
Mine grows at an ok pace,i cant say its much slower if at all so far.
I do have Pisang Ceylon and Pisang Klotek as well and love them both! I really like Mysore group cultivars and so i would like to have as many of this group as possible,including a healthy ''Mysore''. If what mine has is indeed BSV,i will have to search for a healthy replacement unfortunately...

Does anyone have or has seen a totally healthy Mysore mat?

Yes

sunfish
11-01-2011, 02:12 PM
Well maybe not perfect but pretty darn close.


:woohoonaner:

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/004-4.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/003-7.jpg

venturabananas
11-01-2011, 02:55 PM
My understanding is that Pisang Ceylon is just Mysore without BSV. So you already have your replacement. The fruit aren't supposed to be any different, from what I understand.

I have seen mats of Mysore that had no evidence of BSV. Possibly because the were the Pisang Ceylon clone of Mysore or because they were in low-stress conditions that don't elicit expression of BSV.

Kostas
11-01-2011, 04:47 PM
Thank you very much for your replies Tony and Mark!

Tony,
Even this plants does have the stripes,just less pronounced and broken instead of continuous. I dont know wether this is BSV or not,but BSV is said to cause continuous pr broken chlorotic stripes parallel to the veins so it falls within the descriptions i have read. I dont know the exact diagnostic criteria though.

Mark,
Do you have any paper on this subject? I would love to learn more!
I know Pisang Ceylon is ''improved Mysore'' but it doesnt mention in what it is improved. I would think its a different cultivar with ''improved'' fruiting qualities or wind/disease resistance. If thats the case and its not just BSV free,i would still like to get the true Mysore.

sunfish
11-01-2011, 05:35 PM
This plant was grown from a Tc ,flowered and fruited and sent up many pups.If it is bsv seems to have no effect .

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=banana%20bsv&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbananas.bioversityinternational.org%2Ffiles%2Ff iles%2Fpdf%2Fpublications%2Fbsv98.pdf&ei=FnOwTvi4C47isQLu4cjbAQ&usg=AFQjCNE_VxUXHy8rgCzuXoouDFam6pLRZA&cad=rja

Kostas
11-01-2011, 06:17 PM
Thank you very much for the link Tony! Very useful!

From what the link says,BSV doesnt affect Mysore much and it doesnt significantly reduce yield or vigor,just expresses mild symptoms of chlorotic streaking/mosaic. I dont know if what yours or mine has is BSV though as they dont show any necrotic streaks and the streaks arent that much chlorotic,just lighter in color. It still may be BSV though. I think we definitely need an expert opinion on the subject to clear things up and know what BSV is and isnt!
A good diagnostic guide showing all variations of the disease would also help some but i havent found any.

sunfish
11-01-2011, 06:31 PM
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=musa%20bsv&source=web&cd=19&ved=0CFcQFjAIOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dpvweb.net%2Fdpv%2Fshowdpv.php%3Fdpvno%3D39 0&ei=VICwTuzUEsODsgLutbmuAQ&usg=AFQjCNGDgM_MKa0tnHCotlLuv0IArs2y-A&cad=rja

Kostas
11-01-2011, 06:38 PM
Thank for the link Tony!

I did find this one but the photos are nothing like our plants. The leaf symptoms are much more severe. I was just thinking our may be expressing it more mildly perhaps?

venturabananas
11-02-2011, 12:07 PM
Yes, it sounds like expression of the BSV symptoms is quite variable and more extreme in stressful conditions. My cool, non-tropical conditions could certainly be considered stressful. One of my Mysore plants is putting out a leaf that is really streaked and chlorotic, more like the symptoms shown in some of the photos in that guide to BSV.

Kostas, I can't remember where I found the information, but I am pretty certain that only noticeable difference between Pisang Ceylon and Mysore is that PC is BSV free. Thus, I personally see no point in growing both. I am going to remove the streaky Mysore I have.

Tony, you think your Mysore was unaffected by BSV, but how would you know given that expression of the symptoms can be so variable? For example, one study mentioned something 9% reduction in fruit yield in plants with BSV but mild symptoms, and 80% for the same cultivar when it has extreme symptoms. Your Mysore has only mild symptoms. Maybe its bananas would have been 9% bigger if it didn't have BSV, or 20%, or who knows? I've certainly seen locally grown Mysore types that had bigger fruits than yours did and that might be because of the BSV it has.

Kostas, I skimmed those papers in the link Tony provided, too, and I come to different conclusion that you. Nowhere does it say that Mysore with BSV is unaffected. It just says that Mysore is less strongly affected than some other cultivars.

Given that Citrus Mealybug, which spreads the virus among banana plants, is found in California (and probably my neighborhood), I'm going to get rid of my plants with BSV so the bugs don't spread BSV to my other bananas.

sunfish
11-02-2011, 12:10 PM
Yes, it sounds like expression of the BSV symptoms is quite variable and more extreme in stressful conditions. My cool, non-tropical conditions could certainly be considered stressful. One of my Mysore plants is putting out a leaf that is really streaked and chlorotic, more like the symptoms shown in some of the photos in that guide to BSV.

Kostas, I can't remember where I found the information, but I am pretty certain that only noticeable difference between Pisang Ceylon and Mysore is that PC is BSV free. Thus, I personally see no point in growing both. I am going to remove the streaky Mysore I have.

Tony, you think your Mysore was unaffected by BSV, but how would you know given that expression of the symptoms can be so variable? For example, one study mentioned something 9% reduction in fruit yield in plants with BSV but mild symptoms, and 80% for the same cultivar when it has extreme symptoms. Your Mysore has only mild symptoms. Maybe its bananas would have been 9% bigger if it didn't have BSV, or 20%, or who knows? I've certainly seen locally grown Mysore types that had bigger fruits than yours did and that might be because of the BSV it has.

Kostas, I skimmed those papers in the link Tony provided, too, and I come to different conclusion that you. Nowhere does it say that Mysore with BSV is unaffected. It just says that Mysore is less strongly affected than some other cultivars.

Given that Citrus Mealybug, which spreads the virus among banana plants, is found in California (and probably my neighborhood), I'm going to get rid of my plants with BSV so the bugs don't spread BSV to my other bananas.

Could be or a hundred other things.

venturabananas
11-02-2011, 12:12 PM
Yep, I completely agree.

sunfish
11-02-2011, 12:24 PM
Yep, I completely agree.

The fact that it went through a pretty cold winter,I don't fertilizer,don't water every day,removed 6 pups from it after it bloomed etc. I thought I read Goldfinger is one that gets bsv ,it's one of the most hardy I grow.

Kostas
11-02-2011, 12:33 PM
Thank you very much for your replies!

What i meant was that when well grown,Mysore develops only sporadic and mild symptoms and just 9% yield loss which mostly go unnoticed so we cant know without an expert opinion what we are seeing in our Mysore. If yours developed similar severe chlorotic streaks,then you can be certain i guess. Mine only has mild ones but it seems possible to be BSV. I guess i will also have to get rid of it and find a healthy replacement.
Even if Mysore and Pisang Ceylon taste the same,if they look a little different as plants,i would like both! After all,one more good tasting banana cant hurt!:bananas_b

As Tony says,it could be another thing as well. Gabe,Mr. Nelson,any help please?

Thank you very much in advance!

venturabananas
11-02-2011, 12:36 PM
I think Goldfinger can get BSV if a mealybug transfers the virus from your Mysore to it. The problem with Mysore is that most of them that you would buy or get from a friend are already infected with BSV, but most or all Goldfinger are uninfected.

I think the only way you could figure out if BSV affects fruit production of your Mysore is to grow several pairs of it and Pisang Ceylon in various places around your yard. If the Pisang Ceylon out produces the Mysore on average, then you have your answer. But I know that neither of us would do that experiment because we don't have the space or enough interest to do it.

venturabananas
11-02-2011, 12:37 PM
Kostas, I'm almost positive that Pisang Ceylon and Mysore look and taste identical. If you find a Mysore without BSV, most likely it is actually Pisang Ceylon!

Gabe15
11-02-2011, 01:15 PM
'Goldfinger' has BSV in it's genome because it is an AAAB. Every single B genome tested so far has BSV sequences, even wild M. balbisiana. Every single edible banana with a B genome also has it. There are even some integrated virus sequences in M. acuminata. It is more a matter of if it is expressed or not.

Kostas
11-02-2011, 06:24 PM
Gabe,

Do you think mine is expressing BSV or is it something cultural that it has? If a banana does express BSV for some reason,can it overcome the virus and get rid of all virions and suppress the virus to just having it integrated and fully dormant in its genome,in the state any healthy banana has it? Is this likely to happen with mine or would it be preferable for me to get rid of it and search for one not expressing BSV?

Thank you very much in advance! :)

sandy0225
11-03-2011, 07:50 AM
I'd keep it and grow it out, it hasn't really been even determined for sure that it is BSV. For precaution though, if you separate any pups off of it or do any cutting or digging on it with a knife or scissors, shovel,etc, sterilize the knife or instrument used in alcohol before using it to separate or cut or dig another banana plant you own. BSV isn't going to spread to other plants unless you have a carrier such as thrips or mealybugs present as far as I know. It's kind of like the hosta virus and it is spread by propagation. Most bad viruses are spread by thrips in greenhouse culture, I'm surprized that they weren't mentioned in the article link.
It looks mostly unhappy in it's current conditions to me, both of those bananas, have you thought about digging them and putting them into pots with really good potting soil to see what happens?

Kostas
11-03-2011, 08:38 AM
Thank you very much for your reply Sandy!

BSV supposedly only spreads by mealybugs and specific mealy bug species to be exact so mechanical transfer is not possible(which is good) but still,i cant know i dont have those mealybugs around and since overwintering means cramming my bananas to my basement,if there are mealybugs,it could easily spread to my other bananas. I have never *seen* mealybugs on my bananas but i cant vouch there arent any lurking somewhere.
I am not getting rid of my Mysore yet,i will only do that if completely sure thats what it has or if we cannot settle on what this is. I wont get this one to my basement till its settled for good. My Mysore is potted in good quality soil and isnt that unhappy,nowhere near my Ice Cream which was screaming for water(i didnt know how bad it craved for it till i checked from close....). My Mysore is well watered but the weather we are having is cool and not the best for potted bananas. It could be a deficiency or something i guess but i dont know.The reason i first mention a virus is because if its just a deficiency,i dont care,i can fix that, but if its virus,i do care a lot as it must go unless it can heal itself.

Gabe15
11-23-2011, 12:25 PM
Here are some photos of my 'Mysore' displaying classic BSV symptoms.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46918&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46918&ppuser=5)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46919&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46919&ppuser=5)

venturabananas
11-23-2011, 12:51 PM
Thanks Gabe. I have two that look just like that.

Richard
11-23-2011, 06:49 PM
Thanks Gabe. I have two that look just like that.

Check the leaves for zinc and copper deficiency. If deficient, then go after the BSV with agricultural dosages of copper and zinc. Where you and I are located, uptake this time of year will be problematic -- so maybe just a foliar of Liqui-Cop (or Kocide if you have a license) now around sunrise on a non-rain day, then every 90 days with it and a zinc chelate or systemic such as zinc phosphite.

Now for those of you who are concerned about the toxicity of zinc and copper:
1. copper ammonium and zinc chelate are approved for organic farming provided agricultural dosages are used.
2. compare the total amount of zinc and copper you would consume on an annual basis from taking a daily multi-vitamin with 4 agricultural applications of zinc and copper to your banana plants.

momoese
11-23-2011, 06:53 PM
Thanks Gabe. I have two that look just like that.

Where did they come from?

sunfish
11-23-2011, 06:58 PM
Where did they come from?

At least one is from me

Gabe15
11-23-2011, 07:59 PM
Check the leaves for zinc and copper deficiency. If deficient, then go after the BSV with agricultural dosages of copper and zinc.

BSV is an integrated virus, it is part of the banana DNA and cannot be cured by applying possibly deficient nutrients.

venturabananas
11-23-2011, 08:30 PM
Actually, both bananas I have that have BSV symptoms came from Tony, but as Gabe says, in Mysore subgroup bananas the virus DNA is integrated into the banana's DNA, so it's not like Tony is spreading BSV -- the parent plants had the viral DNA integrated into their DNA before Tony ever got his pups. One plant I obtained under the name "Mysore" the other as "Mona Lisa" but it was clearly misidentified and is also a Mysore. I got the "Mona Lisa" from Tony, but he got it from someone who got theirs from Jon. If you look at Jon's photos of the leaves of the parent plant, you can see the symptoms of BSV (and the purple midrib and leaf undersides indicative of it being a Mysore).

Streaks:
http://webebananas.com/bpix/BP946-18.jpg

Purple leaf underside:
http://webebananas.com/bpix/BP943-67.jpg

It is my understanding that stressful conditions can cause bananas with BSV to exhibit the symptoms of the virus, whereas under optimal conditions, they may exhibit few or no symptoms. Tony's plants exhibited fewer symptoms than mine. Goes to show who treats their bananas better!

For clarification, I am pretty sure that there are non-integrated forms of BSV. In these cases, the viral DNA has not been inserted into the banana DNA. The non-integrated form can be spread my mealybugs (just like aphids can spread the BBT virus). But integrated forms of BSV can't be spread. I think that's the deal.

(BTW, the Pisang Klotek I got from Mitchel has never exhibited symptoms of BSV, even though it is a Mysore group banana.)

sunfish
11-23-2011, 08:33 PM
Actually, both bananas I have that have BSV symptoms came from Tony, but as Gabe says, in Mysore subgroup bananas the virus DNA is integrated into the banana's DNA, so it's not like Tony is spreading BSV -- the parent plants had the viral DNA integrated into their DNA before Tony ever got his pups. One plant I obtained under the name "Mysore" the other as "Mona Lisa" but it was clearly misidentified and is also a Mysore. I got the "Mona Lisa" from Tony, but he got it from someone who got theirs from Jon. If you look at Jon's photos of the leaves of the parent plant, you can see the symptoms of BSV (and the purple midrib and leaf undersides indicative of it being a Mysore).

Streaks:
http://webebananas.com/bpix/BP946-18.jpg

Purple leaf underside:
http://webebananas.com/bpix/BP943-67.jpg

It is my understanding that stressful conditions can cause bananas with BSV to exhibit the symptoms of the virus, whereas under optimal conditions, they may exhibit few or no symptoms. Tony's plants exhibited fewer symptoms than mine. Goes to show who treats their bananas better!

For clarification, I am pretty sure that there are non-integrated forms of BSV. In these cases, the viral DNA has not been inserted into the banana DNA. The non-integrated form can be spread my mealybugs (just like aphids can spread the BBT virus). But integrated forms of BSV can't be spread. I think that's the deal.

(BTW, the Pisang Klotek I got from Mitchel has never exhibited symptoms of BSV, even though it is a Mysore group banana.)

Check the pix of mysore in the Wiki

venturabananas
11-23-2011, 08:38 PM
Yes, one of the Mysores in the photos by Dombo has BSV.

Richard
11-23-2011, 08:57 PM
BSV is an integrated virus, it is part of the banana DNA and cannot be cured by applying possibly deficient nutrients.

The reason for checking levels in the plant is so that you don't overdose them with copper and zinc based pesticides.


For clarification, I am pretty sure that there are non-integrated forms of BSV. In these cases, the viral DNA has not been inserted into the banana DNA. The non-integrated form can be spread my mealybugs (just like aphids can spread the BBT virus). But integrated forms of BSV can't be spread.

That's what I learned in the UC short course on tropical IPM.

momoese
11-23-2011, 09:20 PM
(BTW, the Pisang Klotek I got from Mitchel has never exhibited symptoms of BSV, even though it is a Mysore group banana.)

That's good because I thought it had shown signs in the past. Maybe in my case it was a nutrient issue.

Kostas
11-24-2011, 02:32 AM
Thank you very much for the pictures and clarification Gabe! :)
Comparing your pictures to my ''Mysore'',the bleaching pattern on the leafs is identical unfortunately...What would you suggest me do?

Mark,
Its true that the integrated form of BSV cannot be spread without breeding but once a plant expresses the virus,as its clear it does when it shows symptoms,BSV can be transmitted by its mealybug vectors and these arent rare unfortunately. I will be waiting on Gabe to call it but what i am afraid we should do to protect the rest of our bananas is trash the infected plants as the chance of them curing themselves and confining the virus to just its integrated form,is very small and we cant count on it,although it does can happen. Then we need to find a healthy ''Mysore''.........

Mitchel's Pisang Klotek doesnt seem to be expressing the virus.

Gabe15
11-24-2011, 06:47 PM
It is my understanding that stressful conditions can cause bananas with BSV to exhibit the symptoms of the virus, whereas under optimal conditions, they may exhibit few or no symptoms. Tony's plants exhibited fewer symptoms than mine. Goes to show who treats their bananas better!

For clarification, I am pretty sure that there are non-integrated forms of BSV. In these cases, the viral DNA has not been inserted into the banana DNA. The non-integrated form can be spread my mealybugs (just like aphids can spread the BBT virus). But integrated forms of BSV can't be spread. I think that's the deal.
There are different species, but they all pretty much act the same. The virus itself is not in the banana DNA, just the nucleotide sequence which is the instructions on how to make the virus, the banana creates the virus from it's own protein synthesis mechanisms. Once the virus is created in the plant, it does not matter the form, it can spread to other plants by the mealybugs.

The species in Mysore is Banana steak Mysore virus. Other identified species include Banana streak Goldfinger virus, and Banana steak Obino l'Ewai virus. They just refer to on which cultivars they were first identified. BSV is associated with M. balbisiana genomes, but there are also other similar viruses in all M. acuminata. It is just a matter of whether or not those sequences are expressed to create the virus. Once the virus is created, it is active. There are many cases of these virus sequences integrated into plants, but only very few cases, as in banana, where it is infectious and causes disease. There are still many unknowns about the virus because it is a rather rare situation.

Kostas
11-25-2011, 01:57 AM
Thank you very much for your reply Gabe! :)

I guess we need to trash them,as hard as this is...