Recent distribution and diversity analysis on banana bunchy top virus of banana and alternative host in Indonesia

Banana bunchy top is one of the most damaging diseases in banana cultivation. However, the distribution and molecular diversity of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) as well as its alternative hosts in Indonesia have not been reported since 1998. A total of 257 banana leaf samples were collected from the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, Bali, Sumbawa, Timor, and Sumba from 2016 to 2019. The BBTV was detected through PCR in samples from all islands except Kalimantan. A molecular analysis showed that all BBTV isolates belonged to the South East Asian (SEA) subgroup. Based on the DNA-S and DNA-C analysis, the isolates from Sulawesi and Halmahera islands were closely related to those from the Philippines, while the remaining isolates were highly similar to those previously reported from Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Natural infection of BBTV was also recorded on abaca (Musa textilis), wild banana (M. acuminata subsp. sumatrana), ornamental pink banana (M. velutina), galangal (Alpinia galangal), and turmeric (Curcuma longa).

Automated summary

The study found that banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is present in banana plants across various islands in Indonesia, with molecular analysis showing that BBTV isolates mainly belong to the South East Asian subgroup. Additionally, natural infections of BBTV were also observed on other plants such as abaca and wild banana.