Banana Bunch Top Virus

Description:

Description: English: The Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), a serious disease of bananas, was discovered on Oahu in 1989 on a farm at Punaluu. It is now found in most areas of Oahu. It has spread to the islands of Hawaii and Kauai. BBTV causes the stunting of the leaves resulting in a "bunched" appearance. Generally, a banana plant infected with the virus will not set fruit. Other symptoms include stunted keikis or young shoots, narrow, yellow, and brittle leaves, and dark green streaks on the leaf stalks. Although the neighbor islands are free of the virus, BBTV poses a serious threat to the State's banana industry. Date: 2009. Source: http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/pi/ppc/cm_bbt. Author: State of Hawaii.