Log in

View Full Version : Does this look like BBTV?


Magilla Gorilla
09-16-2012, 03:13 PM
Aloha All,

Hawaii life is great! On my way to my office I noticed a banana plant that looked different. The younger leaves look normal but several new leaves are very small and are curled. The plant is around 6-7 feet tall. There are other plants near by that look normal. Does this look like BBTV? If so, should I knock on the persons door and try to talk to them or call HDOA?
Thanks!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/YeloZ06/AD13466E-9313-4BE3-9EC3-CD2354C48C81-19499-000012854ABA7CCD.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/YeloZ06/F390F7B9-2711-4644-9AF9-84ACA4932812-19499-000012853A0CD5E6.jpg

Yug
09-16-2012, 07:13 PM
Yup, but a close-up of the leaf, especially near the midrib with the light coming from the other side would help confirm that.

LilRaverBoi
09-16-2012, 11:27 PM
Yeah, it kinda does. Might be some sort of nutrient deficiency, but I'd def have it checked out since you're in a BBTV susceptible area.

Magilla Gorilla
09-17-2012, 01:19 AM
Yup, but a close-up of the leaf, especially near the midrib with the light coming from the other side would help confirm that.

Yeah, it kinda does. Might be some sort of nutrient deficiency, but I'd def have it checked out since you're in a BBTV susceptible area.

I think it does as well. How would you deal with the owner. Most people grow banana plants here for a source of food. They may not understand what BBTV is and or who am I making this claim. The agricultural department may be the best way to handle it.
Thanks

Yug
09-17-2012, 05:09 AM
I think it does as well. How would you deal with the owner. Most people grow banana plants here for a source of food. They may not understand what BBTV is and or who am I making this claim. The agricultural department may be the best way to handle it.
Thanks
Banana plants that show symptoms rarely bear fruit so it should not be that hard to convince someone to destroy the infected plant.

The virus is spread by infected banana aphids. Sometimes these are spread by ants that 'farm' the aphids much like cattle. Easiest aphid emilination is to kill the aphids by spraying them with soapy water. After spraying the aphids, do not disturb the plant until the next day.

Banana aphids also feed on heliconia and flowering ginger. Although these plants do not harbor the virus, they should also be sprayed to control aphids on them when they are in the vicinity of banana plants. This would help reduce aphid populations in the area.

The main corm and any keikis arising from it must be dug up to prevent regrowth. If the infected plant is in a mat (group or clump of plants), the entire mat should be destroyed, even if only a single sucker is infected. Also, any bananas within a 4 ft radius should also be destroyed even if they do not show symptoms. Some infected plants may not show symptoms for as much as 5 months after infection.

Next, you must ensure that the plant is properly disposed of. Effective methods include incineration, burial in a landfill, thorough chopping and drying, and allowing them to rot in black plastic bags.

note - most hardware stores & plant shops should have insecticidal soap for sale.

Magilla Gorilla
09-17-2012, 01:08 PM
Banana plants that show symptoms rarely bear fruit so it should not be that hard to convince someone to destroy the infected plant.

The virus is spread by infected banana aphids. Sometimes these are spread by ants that 'farm' the aphids much like cattle. Easiest aphid emilination is to kill the aphids by spraying them with soapy water. After spraying the aphids, do not disturb the plant until the next day.

Banana aphids also feed on heliconia and flowering ginger. Although these plants do not harbor the virus, they should also be sprayed to control aphids on them when they are in the vicinity of banana plants. This would help reduce aphid populations in the area.

The main corm and any keikis arising from it must be dug up to prevent regrowth. If the infected plant is in a mat (group or clump of plants), the entire mat should be destroyed, even if only a single sucker is infected. Also, any bananas within a 4 ft radius should also be destroyed even if they do not show symptoms. Some infected plants may not show symptoms for as much as 5 months after infection.

Next, you must ensure that the plant is properly disposed of. Effective methods include incineration, burial in a landfill, thorough chopping and drying, and allowing them to rot in black plastic bags.

note - most hardware stores & plant shops should have insecticidal soap for sale.

I have insecticidal soap. I will stop by their house this weekend and try to talk to them.

Mahalo Andrew

sunfish
09-29-2012, 08:26 AM
Picture List (http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=entityPictureList&entityId=24828)

Magilla Gorilla
09-30-2012, 04:36 AM
Thanks Tony. Today I went to the breadfruit festival and showed the suspect pictures around. Most thought it was BBTV. I went to the persons house with handouts on BBTV and they were very happy I pointed out this infected plant. I helped them spray soapy water on the leaves and the soil. We then cut the plant up and sprayed again. Next we bagged up and sealed the bags. Lastly we removed the corm and any roots. We sprayed the ground again. The bags were put into a dumpster. The variety was Huamoa.

Julian
12-22-2012, 09:03 PM
Thanks Tony. Today I went to the breadfruit festival and showed the suspect pictures around. Most thought it was BBTV. I went to the persons house with handouts on BBTV and they were very happy I pointed out this infected plant. I helped them spray soapy water on the leaves and the soil. We then cut the plant up and sprayed again. Next we bagged up and sealed the bags. Lastly we removed the corm and any roots. We sprayed the ground again. The bags were put into a dumpster. The variety was Huamoa.

You did a great thing. I think the protocol includes poisoning the plant with round up, so the plant dies, and can't spread the disease at the dump.

Julian
12-23-2012, 08:05 PM
I am on Kaua'i for the weekend. Bunchy Top all over the neighbor hood that my sister in law lives in. Multiple mats from 10 to 30 trees per mat infected. I don't think these homeowners can or will put the time into cleaning their yards up. One guy has at least a hundred banana trees in his yard. 25 footers. How does he put in the man hours to clean that up? I feel bad for these people.