Incidence and distribution of banana streak badnavirus in the plantain production region of southern Nigeria

Plantain orchards in the major plantain production area in southern Nigeria were surveyed in 1995 for the occurrence of banana streak virus (BSV) disease. Plantain plants showing BSV-like symptoms were found in 37 of 71 villages visited and in 49 of 147 orchards. BSV was positively identified by ISEM and/or ELISA in 30 orchards in 27 villages. The incidence of symptomatic plants in an orchard ranged from 1 to 17% (mean 4.2%). Of 58 leaf samples taken from plants with symptoms and indexed for both BSV and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), 36 (62%) tested positive for BSV and none tested positive for CMV. The survey results show that BSV is common and widespread in the plantain-growing area of southern Nigeria.