Banana+Infestication

__What is Banana Bunch Top Virus?__ Of the many diseases of banana, Banana Bunch Top Virus (BBTV) is one of the diseases that has the most serious impact. It is essential to discuss this treat to the government and the agricultural scientists. Even when it is established, it's still a hard task to manage and follow up. Agricultural scientists have to be aware that the following plants can be affected: banana, plantain, abaca, wild banana, bird of paradise and ginger. In all growth stages and the whole parts of the plants can be affected. The initial symptoms are dark green streaks in reins of lower portions of the leaf midrib and leaf stem. Moreover, there is light green zone between the midrib and lamina. On the other hand, the BBTV on a mature banana plant can be identified by the following symptoms which are: new leaves are difficult to emerge and are likely to be wavy than flat with yellow margins. The baby brunch become more narrow than normal. At the top of the banana tree appears 'bunched', this is how BBTV is named. When the banana plant is being infected significantly, it would hardly grow any fruit. Even if the plant is able to produce fruits, the produced bananas' hands and fingers would be distorted and twisted. __Under what kind of conditions favor the development of BBTV?__ BBTV is spread by the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa). Aphid is the main favors the development of BBTV. It absorbs virus after at least 4 hours, but being totally infected would usually takes up to 18 hours. Aphid remains virus through its adult life, for a period of 15 - 20 days. During that time, a healthy banana plant could be infected the virus by aphid. Other conditions that favor the development of BBTV include the infected planting materials, weeds, volunteer plants that serve as alternate host, for instance the bird paradise, ginger and wild bananas. __How do we prevent and control BBTV? Advise to the agricultural scientist and government.__ Unfortunately, there is no cure for BBTV disease. However, there are ways avoid. The main way to prevent from BBTV is to control of aphids. For Commercial growers, they would prefer pesticides. However, homeowners would not prefer to use so. They'd use the soapy water and sometimes the insecticidal soaps. The advantage of taking insecticidal soaps are it is non toxic to people, birds and other animals. It would be better for our agricultural scientist to use insecticidal soaps as it would keep our island sustainable. Spray either of the soap at the plants thoroughly, especially on the petioles, furled leaves, whorls or the young suckers. On the other hand, agricultural scientist can use diseased- free planting materials. If most of the banana plants are infected, I'd suggested to remove and rouge all of them. Chop, dry and bury the infected plants.

Environmental Scientist, P. Turner 20/08/11 Banana Bunchy Top Virus Plants her hectare

1 hectare: 10000m2

= 1m2

= 100m x 100m


 * Distance (metres) || Rows ||
 * 0m || 1 ||
 * 3 || 2 ||
 * 6 || 3 ||
 * 9 || 4 ||
 * 12 || 5 ||
 * 15 || 6 ||
 * 18 || 7 ||
 * 21 || 8 ||
 * 24 || 9 ||
 * 27 || 10 ||
 * 30 || 11 ||
 * 33 || 12 ||
 * 36 || 13 ||
 * 39 || 14 ||
 * 42 || 15 ||
 * 45 || 16 ||
 * 48 || 17 ||
 * 51 || 18 ||
 * 54 || 19 ||
 * 57 || 20 ||
 * 60 || 21 ||
 * 63 || 22 ||
 * 66 || 23 ||
 * 69 || 24 ||
 * 72 || 25 ||
 * 75 || 26 ||
 * 78 || 27 ||
 * 81 || 28 ||
 * 84 || 29 ||
 * 87 || 30 ||
 * 90 || 31 ||
 * 93 || 32 ||
 * 96 || 33 ||
 * 99 || 34 ||

34 rows 100/1.5=67



81 plants

81x34= 2754

Plants per hectare are 2754


 * Plantation || Hectares ||  || Banana Plants ||
 * Port Plantation || 25 || 25x 2754 || 68,850 ||
 * Plantation A - located at B4 - 90 hectares || 90 || 90x 2754 || 247,860 ||
 * Plantation B - located at C7 - 124 hectares || 124 || 124x 2574 || 341,496 ||
 * Plantation C - located at C8 - 12 hectares || 12 || 12x 2574 || 33,048 ||
 * Plantation D - located at C5 - 356 hectares || 356 || 356x 2574 || 980,424 ||
 * Plantation E - located at B6 - 486 hectares || 486 || 486x 2574 || 1,338,444 ||
 * Total banana plants: || 3,010,122 ||

**Impact on the economy**

$994 per tonne of bananas 40kg of bananas per plant

3,010,122 banana plants with 40kg


 * 40x3, 010,122= 120,404,880kg annually (40kg per 12months)**

This can potentially be more as takes 12months to grow new banana plants.

Back to Home Page