Australasian Plant Pathology (1997) 26, 250-254

A.D.W. Geering and J.E. Thomas (1997)
Search for alternative hosts of Banana bunchy top virus in Australia
Australasian Plant Pathology 26 (4), 250-254
Abstract: A range of plant species that are either cultivated, naturalised or indigenous to sub-tropical eastern Australia and are also able to sustain feeding by Pentalonia nigronervosa, the vector of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), were investigated as possible hosts of the virus. Alocasia brisbanensis, Alpinia arundelliana, Alpinia caerulea, Alpinia zerumbet, Canna indica, Colocasia esculenta, Hedychium coronarium and Heliconia psittacorum cv. Red Parakeet were aphid-inoculated with BBTV and none became systemically infected. Furthermore, no BBTV was detected in surveys of field plants of Alocasia brisbanensis, Alpinia caerulea, Canna indica, Canna generalis, Canna orchiodes, Colocasia esculenta and Strelitzia reginae found growing in or near banana plantations affected by BBTV. It is therefore -concluded that hosts other than Musa spp. probably do not play a role as reservoirs of BBTV in Australia.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Andrew D.W. Geering, John E. Thomas

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Banana bunchy top virus	Banana/plantain (Musa)
	Pentalonia nigronervosa	Banana/plantain (Musa)