Tanzanian researchers develop disease-resistant bananas to combat virus outbreak
Tanzanian researchers are working to develop disease-resistant banana varieties in response to the rapid spread of the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), a disease threatening banana production in the country.
BBTV, spread by banana aphids, causes Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD), which severely stunts banana plants, leading to significant yield losses for farmers.
A scientist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Happyness Mpanda, emphasised the importance of proactive measures to contain the disease.
"The only effective control measure is to encourage affected farmers to uproot and destroy all infected banana plants and allow a fallow period before replanting with disease-free banana seedlings," she explained.
To develop a long-term solution, researchers are screening 72 banana varieties from their parental breeding program for BBTV resistance.
"Those found to be resistant will advance to the banana product development phase," Mpanda said.
Initially confined to Kigoma, BBTV has now spread to other regions, causing severe losses for banana farmers.
"While breeding resistant varieties takes time, it is the most sustainable solution. Meanwhile, farmers must uproot and destroy infected banana plants to curb the spread of the disease," Mpanda noted.
BBTV is not just a Tanzanian problem; it has been reported in several African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia.
