Occurrence of “banana streak virus” in cultivars of banana Grande Naine and Nanicão in the State of Santa Catarina

Abstract

An outbreak of banana streak virus (BSV) was observed in Santa Catarina, Brazil, in the counties of Luís Alves, Massaranduba and Corupá in cultivars of the subgroup Cavendish (Grand Naine and Nanicão) in the
2009/10 crop season. BSV causes yellow or chlorotic leaf streaks leading to leaf death. Dark necrotic streaks are observed in the main vein of leaves on the petiole and on the leaf sheath. Tissues inside the pseudostem are destroyed due to infection by the virus, and during the flowering there is “choking” of the pseudostem in the rosette-like leaves
which prevent normal emergence of the bunch. This causes “abortion” in different points bolow the rosette. Infected plants produce smaller and distorted (inverted) bunches, as well as illformed and necrotic fruits, which eventually split. Eliminating contaminated plants, controlling mealybugs and using healthy plantlets are measures that contribute
to the control of BSV.