Abstract:

The first severe outbreak of banana streak virus (BSV) in Uganda was reported in Rakai and Masaka this year (1996). Samples were found to have BSV and a filamentous virus which has not yet been identified. Samples from the severely affected site (Kyotera) had a mixture of the viruses while those from the mildly affected site (Kalisizo) had only BSV. It is not clear whether the two viruses are acting synergistically to cause the destruction observed in these fields or if a more virulent strain is involved. Similar situations with BSV and associated filamentous viruses have also been reported in Ghana, South Africa and Zanzibar. The authors review the symptoms observed, the possible vectors, the control strategies and the research project to characterize BSV and other important diseases of Ugandan bananas.

[The first severe outbreak of the dashed mosaic virus (BSV) in Uganda was reported this year (1996) in Rakai and Masaka regions. Samples showed the presence of BSV and a filamentous virus which has not yet been identified. Samples from a severely affected site (Kyotera) showed a mixture of the two viruses, while those from a mildly affected site (Kalisizo) contained only BSV. It could not be clearly determined whether these viruses act synergistically to cause the destruction observed in the fields or whether we are dealing with a more virulent strain. Similar associations of BSV and filamentous virus have been found in Ghana, South Africa and Zanzibar. The authors review the symptoms observed, the possible vectors,