Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Its in hawaii has it hit the main lands yet ?
this is the info i have found So far on it
Bunchy top is a viral disease caused by the Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). The disease, often called BBTD for banana bunchy top disease, gets its name from the bunchy appearance of infected plants.Jan 30, 2018
Bunchy top | The knowledge platform on the banana

Wondering more about it .

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

That's as good a summary as I've seen. Been dealing with it for a year and a half. It hasn't been quite as dismal as I initially feared. Some types that have been infected continue to be quite productive. Now that it's spreading in my area, there is no hope of eradication.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Robgus . it was on your site i first read about it . Was bugged you dont ship . but someday when i make it to Hawaii i hope to stay at the cottage also would love to chat with a fellow banana person Mahalo

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

That is really scary. Hopefully they can find a cure.

Bill

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

It's hardly a new disease, it's been known since 1889, and in Hawaii since 1989. Hawaii is actually one of the more recent places it's made it to.

In most places it occurs, it's a relatively minor disease. The reason it is a major issue in Hawaii is due in large part due to social dynamics, not so much the biology of the disease itself.

There are some resistant/tolerant varieties, see here: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.ed...le/10125/51069

The most important thing to control it is to remove infected plants, and always source clean planting stock when planting new plants.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Gabe,




Thank you for posting a very awesome and interesting study, research!.....As always, you are upfront in anything related to Bananas!.....

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Gabe Always has our back . havent seen anyone in a while just read posts and enjoy so nice seeing you Gabe15 and thank you im still learning , 1 reason i enjoyed robgus site was his refusing to sale to areas unaffected . that shows class and care .

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

I don't believe shipping of any plant materials, especially bananas, is allowed into or out of Hawaii, and they are serious about it.
Gabe, what do you mean social dynamics?

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

It is bad but there is a lot worse Musa diseases out there! Like nematodes, Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 1 and 4. TR4 is the scary one! It has been found in Jamaica but is mostly still in Asia. There is few to none that is resistant! This is one of over 100 Musa problems! That’s the one advantage is sub-Tropical growers have!

Do your research! DONT GET Planting material from the TROPICS unless it’s in tissue culture!! A soilless mix does not mean it’s safe! The #1 way it is spreading is NOT soil. It’s WATER! How can a tropical seller know it’s not in their water? We do not need these problems in the cont. US!

I’m not trying to scare anyone! The threat is real! Be smart! Do your research! Once you have it, it’s done! You can’t cure it or remove from your soil!

Fusarium wilt | The knowledge platform on the banana

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

A few months back, someone on here stated that nematodes are easily managed... I am still waiting on those instructions.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

In Hawaii, it's largely a problem because non-farmer folks do not remove infected plants, either because they are ignorant or uneducated about it, they see it as being too much work, or they just refuse to, believing they will perform a magic spell or sorts and cure it. I often diagnose BBTV in folks gardens, and a very common reaction is that I must be wrong, and they are just going to wait it out and see, or when I tell them how to take care of it, they insist on alternate, non-effective techniques.

If everyone removed infected plants in a timely manner, it would be a minor disease in Hawaii because the source of virus would be diminished. Production farmers are typically very good about controlling it on farm, but on small islands where residential and agricultural areas are often in close proximity, it doesn't matter how good a job the farmer is doing if gardeners nearby are continuing to allow infected plants to remain growing.

So that is how it is also a social issue in addition to the biological difficulties inherent to it.

It basically involves controlling them in your soil from the start, which may include a number of different techniques, such as suppressant cover crops and healthy soil biology, and then making sure you are not bringing them in on new plants.

For bananas, this means if you have plants which potentially may be harboring them, such as field dug suckers, the corms should be pared clean of all roots and the outer layer of corm, and then soaked in either 130°F water or 10% bleach solution for 20min. I personally prefer the hot water.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

A lot of weeds can also have the same nematodes. So removing all the weeds can help too. I’ve heard of people removing the Musa and not using the field for years then replanting Musa having the same problem. It’s because the weeds were susceptible to the same nematodes.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Thanks Gabe... I had some ideas what you meant by social dynamics but was curious what you meant, specifically... Now I know.
I have done what you suggested with plants for nematodes, but they eventually return. It gets you 2-3 months of "normal" growth. I recently tried a fungus that is supposed to kill them, mainly in the larval stage, but I realize it won't work like a poison would, it will take some time.
Some of the symptoms mine have are like nematodes, but some, such as decimation of pups is more akin to weevils. (On some the pups are unharmed and eventually outgrow the parent and in others the pups die off, then return only to die off again. It's weird as well as maddening.) Possibly I have both. All I know is I have plants over a year old less than 3 feet tall... Still trying everything I can, but not getting much return.
I recently dug a GM and the corm was the size of a cantaloupe and healthy, roots and all, just fine. It wasn't growing with much vigor, though... It's replanted in pure sand now, we will see what it does.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Re: Just read more about a new disease called Bunchy top

Hello,

I've been searching for the nematodes cure and mostly on forums there're talks about a special organic liquid mixture, but noone can say exactly what ingredients are needed.
Perhaps, someone has a pdf of Nematodes organic control by special mixture liquid: formulation & manufacturing process?

Thanks,
Steve

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

I know Texas A&M has done studies on the bacteria streptomyces lydicus. They have shown the bacteria has proven to be helpful against root knot nematodes. It may be something to research and get you closer to what your looking for.

Good luck.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

DrPsyche... Did you read the link I posted?
I used it once before and am pretty sure it was what helped a lot, but only had enough for one treatment and it takes several. I now have much more and am trying again. I will let you all know when the weather turns good and I can tell something. Frosts have made all bananas here look sickly and nearly stop growing, and next week is lookin pretty chilly as well. Hurricanes, cold and nematodes... I may never eat my own bananas again at this rate.

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Here it is again:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15759436

Re: Just read about a new disease called Bunchy top
 

Gabe, nice article, i noticed 2 of the tolerant/resistant varieties were in the Pisang Awak group, do you know if others in this group have the same traits? Such as namwah, dwarf namwa and pisang awak itself? Also the Ney Poovan I got was listed as AB? Is this changed?
Edit* just read about gabes gumby, think this is the one in the article.