Abstract
Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm), a bacterium causing banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease, is widely spread in the East and Central Africa and infects all cultivated bananas. The first objective of this study was to identify plant species produced in banana cropping systems of Rwanda that may act as host of Xcm, and to evaluate the susceptibility of different banana cultivars in Rwanda. Eighteen plant species including banana, banana-intercrop species and plant species closely related to banana were used to study the host range of Xcm. Similarly, five banana cultivars (Fhia-17, Fhia-25, Injagi, Mpologoma and Nkazikamwa) were used to assess their susceptibility level to Xcm. Tested plant species and banana cultivars were inoculated with Xcm isolate in a controlled environment. Only banana and its relatives (enset, blood banana, achira, African arrowroot, and Indian shot) developed xanthomonas wilt symptoms. Time to first symptoms expression and to complete wilting varied significantly (P < 0.0001) between susceptible plant species. Longer survival times (P < 0.0001) were observed in wild (blood) banana, Canna species and enset compared to cultivated banana. Since these susceptible plant species could host the bacteria, they should be avoided in farms or gardens neighbouring banana fields. All the five banana cultivars tested were susceptible to Xcm. Among the cultivars, Mpologoma was first to express disease symptoms and to wilt completely; while the longest incubation period and time to complete wilting were recorded in cultivar Fhia-17. Due to the broad host range and high susceptibility of banana cultivars to Xcm, information about how to limit the spread of the bacteria is crucial for disease control.Key words: Disease progress, Musa spp., Xanthomonas wilt
Highlights
The bacterium, Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm), is the causal organism of banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease, a major threat to banana production in the East and Central Africa (Tripathi et al, 2009)
Of the 18 plant species inoculated with the Xcm isolate, only six viz. banana, blood banana, African arrow root, achira, Indian shot and enset developed symptoms of xanthomonas wilt (Fig. 1)
We confirmed that Xcm isolates from banana can cause infection in banana relatives viz. wild banana, enset and Canna species, which are known hosts of Xcm
Summary
The bacterium, Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm), is the causal organism of banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease, a major threat to banana production in the East and Central Africa (Tripathi et al, 2009). Musacearum (Xcm), is the causal organism of banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease, a major threat to banana production in the East and Central Africa (Tripathi et al, 2009). The symptoms of Xcm on banana include progressive yellowing and wilting of leaves, starting from the youngest leaf, withering of male buds, premature ripening of the fruit and yellow bacterial ooze observed in about 15 minutes after the pseudostem is cut, confirming the presence of the disease (Tinzaara et al, 2006). Apart from the cultivated enset and banana, Xcm has been found to infect several other hosts including Musa zebrina, Musa ornata and Canna indica (Ssekiwoko et al, 2006a); maize, sorghum and sugarcane (Aritua et al, 2008; Karamura et al, 2015); wild enset, wild and cultivated sorghum, Canna spp., maize and sugarcane (Chala et al, 2016). Karamura et al (2015) could not observe the symptoms in maize but could re-isolate the bacterium Xcm from inoculated but healthy looking maize, thereby confirming its ability to harbour the bacterium
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