TRANSMISSION OF CUCUMBER MOSAIC VIRUS (CMV) INFECTING BANANA BY APHID AND MECHANICAL METHODS

Abstract

Banana is the premier fruit of the Asia and pacific region. It is the fourth most<br>important food crop after rice, wheat and maize. In Tamil Nadu, banana is grown in 92,200 hectares with an annual production of 48.56 million tones. Among all biotic constraints, viruses<br>cause huge economic loss to the crop. Some of the major diseases are caused by viruses which<br>include Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), Banana Streak<br>Virus (BSV), Banana Bract Mosaic Virus (BBMV) have been reported in our country. CMV virus<br>concentration in host (Musa) tissue is very less. So it is necessary to transfer this virus to good propagation host such as Nicotiana sp for purification. The purpose of the study was the transmission of CMV infecting banana into propagation host either by aphid or mechanically. The<br>transmission was confirmed through Direct Antigen Coating Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (DAC-ELISA).