Bananas.org - Is this true and typical BSV?

Bananas.org (http://www.bananas.org/)

- Banana Plant Health And Maintenance Topics (http://www.bananas.org/f310/)

- - Is this true and typical BSV? (http://www.bananas.org/f310/true-typical-bsv-14121.html)

Re: Is this true and typical BSV?

Yes, one of the Mysores in the photos by Dombo has BSV.

Re: Is this true and typical BSV?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe15 (Post 180230)

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas (Post 180249)

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.

Re: Is this true and typical BSV?

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas (Post 180249)

(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.

Re: Is this true and typical BSV?

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.

Re: Is this true and typical BSV?

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas (Post 180249)

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.

Re: Is this true and typical BSV?

Thank you very much for your reply Gabe! :)

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