Abstract
Effect of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) on morpho-physiological characteristics of banana (Musa sp.) cv., Basrai plants was assessed. Healthy and BBTV infected samples of banana were collected from its open fields and micro-propagated aseptically. These plantlets were established in wire-house for three months. Presence of BBTV was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Micro-propagation efficiency of BBTV-infected plants was observed in less than healthy plants under in-vitro as well as in-vivo. Significant reduction in plant height, fresh weight (F wt) and dry weight (D wt) of leaf was observed in BBTV infected plants. A co-relation of peroxidase (POX) activity was observed with total carotenoids that increased in BBTV infected plants, while chlorophyll contents decreased significantly. Nitrate reductase activity also decreased with increase in proline contents in BBTV-stresses plants (p<0.05). Meanwhile, reducing sugars also increased but not-significantly. Bunchy top virus infection in banana therefore resulted in alteration of growth related physiological traits that led to retardation of plant growth. Key words: Ex-vitro, Musa sp., micro-propagation, photosynthetic pigments, BBTV, peroxidases, total proteins, reducing sugars, cell size.
Highlights
In plants, a number of environmental stresses produce characteristically identifiable symptoms because of deleterious impacts on different physiological processes
Banana is affected by five growth limiting viruses (Stover, 1972), with the most destructive being the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) transmitted through planting infected banana nursery and by banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa) to healthy plants
During this experiment it was observed that BBTV had differential effects on plant growth of banana from early stages to its maturity (Figure 1)
Summary
A number of environmental stresses (biotic and abiotic) produce characteristically identifiable symptoms because of deleterious impacts on different physiological processes. Banana is affected by five growth limiting viruses (Stover, 1972), with the most destructive being the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) transmitted through planting infected banana nursery and by banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa) to healthy plants. This virus is observed around the world, especially in Asia and the Pacific regions (Magee, 1940; Wu, 1978; Dale, 1987; Su, 1990; Harding et al, 1991; Moffat, 2001). The BBTV infected plants have been noted with stunted growth, deformation of young leaves and bunched at top of plant (Chia et al., 1992, 1995; Hendry, 1987)
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