Saving abaca from the onslaught of the bunchy-top disease
2000
Raymundo, A.D. (Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Dept. of Plant Pathology)
Bunchy-top, caused by a virus which is transmitted by the aphid vector Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq., is the most destructive disease of abaca. Epidemics of the disease have devastated many abaca plantations in the Bicol Region of the Philippines for more than a half-century. The disease can be controlled by eradication of diseased plants, but this approach had not yielded the desired results due to inadequate understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and of the insect vector. A current collaborative program between the Fiber Industry Development Authority and the University of the Philippines Los Banos, which is aimed at managing abaca bunchy-top with a holitic approach, is discussed. This program involves ascertaining the distribution and dynamics of the disease and of the insect vector, eradication of infected materials, replanting virus-free tissue-cultured materials in eradicated areas, training of field technicians, and community education to inform farmers and other stakeholder in the abaca industry of the importance of bunchy-top and the need for a concerted effort toward its management
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