Managing the risk of spread of banana bugtok disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in the Island of Luzon, Philippines
2023
Dela Cueva, F.M. | De Torres, R.L. | Codrez, W.P. | Mendoza, J.V.S. | Tiongco, R.L. | Manzanilla, C.M.C. | Lucela, L.M. | Buendia, M.C.M.
An alarming outbreak of a disease in bananas Cv. Saba was reported in Luzon. Infected plants appear healthy, their leaves remain green and fruits looked normal. However, when cross sectioned, discoloration of the fruit flesh, peduncle, crown and pseudostem was apparent. Even when ripe, the fruits remained hard and inedible. This has been documented in 15 barangays [villages], situated in 7 municipalities, in Palawan. This has also been seen in 58,871 out of 98,165 mats of banana planted in a municipality in Cavite. To address this problem, the Institute of Plant Breeding, together with Region IV-A [Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Philippines] Crop Protection Center, Bureau of Plant Industry, and local government units conducted a survey and collection. Combined morpho-cultural, molecular, and pathogenicity tests identified the pathogen of the affected plants as Ralstonia solanacearum, confirming the presence of Bugtok in the island of Luzon. These findings constitute the first report of Bugtok in Cavite and in Palawan, highlighting the need to explore the extent and impact of this disease on plantain production in the country.
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