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The Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), a serious disease of bananas, was discovered on Oahu in 1989 on a farm at Punaluu. It is now found in most areas of Oahu. It has spread to the islands of Hawaii and Kauai. BBTV causes the stunting of the leaves resulting in a "bunched" appearance. Generally, a banana plant infected with the virus will not set fruit. Other symptoms include stunted keikis or young shoots, narrow, yellow, and brittle leaves, and dark green streaks on the leaf stalks. Although the neighbor islands are free of the virus, BBTV poses a serious threat to the State's banana industry.

Because there is no cure for the virus, University of Hawaii researchers are trying to develop BBTV resistant banana varieties.

On Oahu, the Chemical/Mechanical Section of Plant Pest Control Branch, Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has a program in place to manage BBTV. On Hawaii, an eradication program is ongoing. A program to eradicate the disease on Kauai is currently being developed. A crew surveys farms to assist in the identification of infected plants. Surveys of farms and residential areas are also performed on the neighbor islands. It is important that you DO NOT TRANSPORT BANANA PLANTS FROM OAHU TO THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS. Doing so may spread the virus. However, banana fruits are okay take to the neighbor islands. Please contact the HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch if you suspect your banana plants have BBTV.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Plant Pest Control Branch
Chemical/Mechanical Section
1428 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512

Phone: (808) 973-9530
E-mail: cmoahu@yahoo.com