Abstract
Xanthomonas wilt caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv.musacearum (Xcm) is one of the most important constraints to banana production. The use of resistant banana varieties would be a long-term and cost-effective solution to control any pathogen. Therefore, identifying this pathogen resistant banana genotype is one of the basic requirements for effective management. The current study was therefore initiated to evaluate banana genotypes for resistance to banana Xanthomonas wilt. The experiment was conducted at Arsi University greenhouse from 2014 to 2015 GC. Banana and enset disease were collected and bacterial isolates were isolated and characterized based on different characterization tests. Twelve (12) banana genotypes were inoculated with three Xcm isolates (I1, I2 and I3) in a factorial experiment arranged in CRD with six replications. Disease assessment data was conducted and analyzed. Bacterial isolates were isolated and the identity of the isolated strains was confirmed as Xcm. The analysis of variance for incubation period, wilting incidence and disease severity revealed significant variations (p<0.05) among banana genotype and isolates. The results revealed that “Cadaba” genotype was found to have the lowest wilt incidence of 16.67%, severity index 15.07% and longest incubation period 5.28 and 9.33 weeks for initial and complete wilting respectively, moderately resistant to the pathogen and producers preferred for multiplication. Butuza, Grandy nani, Robusta and Willams genotype were determined as moderately susceptible having wilting incidence of 21-30%. However, “Nijuru Genotype” showed the highest wilting incidence of 66.67%, severity index 38.78% followed by “Matooke that could be used as highly susceptible checks in future screening trail. Results also revealed that among Xcm isolates, isolate- I2 is the most aggressive, while isolate I1 is the least aggressive. As the current work revealed, the potential variation among banana genotype reaction to Xcm infection, genotype that showed moderately susceptible reaction should be further evaluated against Xcm. Key words: Banana genotype, incubation period, wilt incidence, Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum.
Highlights
Banana is the world‟s fifth most important food crops after maize, rice, wheat and cassava (Tripathi, 2011)
For effective control of this pathogen, the current study was designed to evaluate different banana genotypes for resistance to banana Xanthomonas wilt under artificial inoculation conditions
Spreading the bacteria ooze obtained from the symptomatic banana and enset pseudostem on the cellobiose cephalexin agar (CCA) media resulted in the growth of typical bacterial isolates with smooth mucoid colonies having light to deep yellow and creamy color after three days of incubation period at 28°C
Summary
Banana is the world‟s fifth most important food crops after maize, rice, wheat and cassava (Tripathi, 2011). In Ethiopia, it is the second major fruit crop after citrus. It is grown in southern and western parts of the country, which are mainly confined to low to mid altitudes where there is adequate rainfall or irrigation (Seifu, 1999).
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