G M Vennila
Sri Ramachandra University, India
Title: NRDMC-BBTV non-radioactive detection and molecular characterization of Banana bunchy top virus Chennai isolate
Biography
Biography: G M Vennila
Abstract
Many pests and diseases have significantly affected Musa cultivation. Viral diseases are even more devastating for banana plantation. One of the most serious viral diseases of banana is the Banana Bunchy top disease caused by Banana bunchy top virus, a multicomponent, circular, single stranded DNA virus belongs to the family Nanoviridae. Apart from BBTV, Cauliflower mosaic virus (CMV), Banana streak virus (BSV), Banana Bromo Mosaic virus (BBrMV) also infects banana. Banana is the only host of BBTV and P. nigeronervosa is the only vector that carries BBTV. Detection of BBTV using slot blot hybridization of DNA and RNA with gene specific probes showed variation at DNA level. Comparatively, RNA was better in detecting the viral components than DNA. We have cloned and sequenced all the six full length components of BBTV isolate from Chennai region. Sequence data shows that the Chennai isolate belongs to South-Pacific group of BBTV and have highest sequence identity to isolates from this group rather than Asian group members.