SUMMARY Idiomorphs mat1-1 and mat1-2 from Mycosphaerella fijiensis, the causal agent of black leaf streak disease of banana, were isolated. Degenerate oligos were used to amplify the HMG box of the mat1-2 idiomorph from M. fijiensis, showing homology with the HMG box of Mycosphaerella graminicola. Using a DNA walking strategy, anchored on the DNA lyase gene towards the HMG box, a 9-kb-long regi...

Recently, we have reported an electrochemiluminescence polymerase chain reaction (ECL-PCR) method for detection of genetically modified organisms. The ECL-PCR method was further improved in the current study by introducing a multi-purpose nucleic acid sequence that was specific to the tris(bipyridine) ruthenium (TBR) labeled probe, into the 5' terminal of the primers. The method was applied to ...

Context Banana production in Australia is three primary sub-regions within tropical North Queensland and the industry faces a variety of challenges including costs production, disease pests, environmental impacts. The range soil characteristics banana leaf nutrient status on farms has not previously been systematically described. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to adapt research, manageme...

Agro-based fibers are classified according to what part of the plant they come from. Five different fiber classifications will be used in this report: (1) bast or stem fibers, which are the fibrous bundles in the inner bark of the plant stem running the length of the stem; (2) leaf fibers, which run the length of leaves; (3) seed-hair fibers; (4) core, pith or stick fibers, which form the low d...

Landscape genetics, which combines population genetics, landscape ecology and spatial statistics, has emerged recently as a new discipline that can be used to assess how landscape features or environmental variables can influence gene flow and spatial genetic variation. We applied this approach to the invasive plant pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis, which causes black leaf streak dise...

Various process parameters for the production of polygalacturonase by Streptomyces lydicus under solid-state fermentation were optimized. The optimum particle size of wheat bran for polygalacturonase production was in the range of 500-1000 μm. Initial moisture content of 70% was found to be the optimum for enzyme production. The most suitable inoculum size was 1.25 × 10(5) CFU/mL and the optimu...

Among nematodes parasitizing bananas throughout the world, Radopholus similis and Helicotylenchus multicinctus are the most widespread and damaging species. Besides these two nematodes, Hoplolaimus pararobustus is encountered frequently in Ivory Coast and has been increasing in banana growing areas for the past 25 years (6,10). In vitro culture systems could facilitate screening for resistance ...

Incidence of leaf blast on nursery plants and pitting disease on maturing banana bunches has been recorded in banana plantations during rainy season in Eastern India during 2014 to 2015. Taxonomical identification as well as DNA sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of fungus isolated from affected tissue culture derived plantlets and fruits confirmed the pathogen to be Py...

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine the impact of using a herbicide as a bananacide on aphid transmission of Banana bunchy top virus (family Nanoviridae, genus Babuvirus, BBTV) to healthy banana (Musa spp.) plants. BBTV-infected banana plants in a commercial orchard were treated with Roundup Weathermax herbicide. Using polymerase chain reaction, the time after herbicide tre...