Potential of Infected Banana Parts to Transmit Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum

The potential of different parts of banana bacterial wilt infected banana plants to transmit the wilt bacterium, Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm) was investigated. Banana parts (fresh leaves, dry leaves, fresh pseudostem sheath, fruit peelings and corms) picked form diseased plants were used to inoculate the test plantlets. Prior to inoculation, banana wilt bacterium was isolated from these parts, quantified and confirmed through pathogenicity tests on healthy banana potted plantlets. Inoculation with banana parts was then done by placing infected parts into contact with wounded healthy banana pantlets. Fresh plant parts contained more bacterial cells than dry leaves. This isolated bacteria induced disease symptoms often associated with Xanthomonas campestris pv musacearum infection. Inoculation results showed that some parts (mainly the fresh banana parts) were able to cause infection to healthy potted banana plantlets only after wounding the test plant roots. Even then, the disease incidence was low (5-20%). Therefore, practices and activities that involve movement of fresh banana parts some of which could be from infected banana plants should be discouraged as it has been shown that these parts can carry viable and pathogenic bacteria