Variation in Symptom Development and Infectivity of Banana Bunchy Top Disease among Four Cultivars of Musa sp.

Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) is an invasive viral spreading in Africa. It transmitted by banana aphids and infected planting material, causing production losses. Clean seeds timely eradication of diseased plants are effective tools BBTD management. These depend on detection. We assessed the relationship between symptom expression infectivity virus four cultivars banana. Plantlets from cultivars, ‘FHIA 25’; ‘Aloga’; ‘Ebenga’ ‘Sotoumon’, were exposed to viruliferous monitored for expression. They also tested as sources transmission fortnightly allowing non-viruliferous acquisition access prior transfer healthy test plants. The time required show symptoms compared, infection PCR. Disease varied weeks 25’ fifteen ‘Sotoumon’. Only symptomatic leaves positive could act sources. Overall, was most susceptible cultivar, while ‘Sotoumon’ least rapidly expressive BBTD, yet there no difference leaf emergence rate cultivars. results present important aspects control safety materials that should be field.