Alternative host plants of banana aphid and BBTD

Abstract

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is transmitted persistently by the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel. Apart from Musaceae family, P. nigronervosa can also grow on other host plants. A study was conducted in the BBTD endemic area of South Cameroon, specifically in the localities of Nlono, Abang Minko'o and Mengama, to inventory the alternative host plants of banana aphid, define the identity of the aphid species present and their roles in aphid ecology and BBTD epidemiology. The alternative host plants of P. nigronervosa identified were Costus afer Ker Gawl, Carica papaya L., Canna indica L., Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Aframomum sp, and Zingiber sp. Aphids were present on all the hosts plant with different level of abundance; Musa sp was the preferred aphid host plants whereas no aphid was observed on Carica papaya. Using molecular methods, BBTV was detected only on Musa plants while no other hosts were tested positive to BBTV; similarly, the virus was detected only on aphids fed on infected Musa plants. COI analysis reveal that all the aphid found on alternative host species were Pentalonia caladi while Pentalonia nigronervosa form typica were found on Musa sp and X. sagittifolium. Alternative hosts of banana aphid and aphids fed on play a role in aphid ecology but not in BBTV ecology in BBTD endemic area of Cameroon