Abstract
In an evaluation of the susceptibility of three Musa species grown in Okinawa Island, Japan, to Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), the virus was widely distributed among edible banana cv. Dwarf Cavendish and cv. Shima. However, bunchy top symptoms and BBTV infection were not observed and detected from all plants of fibre banana cv. Itobasho (Musa balbisiana var. liukiuensis) tested. Furthermore, none of the Itobasho plants were infected with BBTV via viruliferous banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq.) that had been propagated on BBTV-infected pseudostems, whereas 78% of the edible bananas were infected under the same conditions. Thus, Itobasho seems to have an immunity to BBTV but is not resistant to aphid infestation or colonization.
