Blood disease increasingly threatens banana plantations worldwide

Blood disease is a bacterial wilt pest of banana caused by the blood disease bacterium (BDB). It obtained its name because banana stems look like they are bleeding when cut. To date, there is no cure for the disease. It causes leaf wilt, fruit rot, and plant death. 

For the first time, Banana Blood disease was reported in 1905 in Kayuadi Island, Indonesia. The contamination was so severe that farmers had to abandon their banana plantations. For 60 years, the disease was contained to this small area due to restrictions on transporting plant materials, but eventually it escaped.

Later in 1987, Blood disease was registered in West Java and it spread fast throughout the Indonesian archipelago – it is now recorded in 25 of the 34 provinces. Then, the disease reached peninsular Malaysia. It is highly likely the disease will spread to other countries of Asia.

According to Jane Ray, a PhD student who is studying the biology and epidemiology of Blood disease at the University of Queensland, without intervention, the losses could be devastating due to epidemics in regions where farmers are not experienced in managing this disease. 

Ray and colleagues are aimed to learn this disease carefully and develop improved disease management options. 

Their study confirmed Blood disease in 18 banana varieties, including Cavendish, the most popular variety in the world. 

source: eurekalert.org

photo: researchgate.net