Status of banana Xanthomonas wilt in western Kenya and factors enhancing its spread

• Authors : Mbaka, J.N.; Nakato, G.V.; Auma, J.; Odero, B.


• Document type : Journal article


• Year of publication : 2009


• Journal title : African Crop Science Conference Proceedings


• Number : 9




• Pages : 673-676


• Peer-reviewed : No


• ISSN : 1023-070X


• Language(s) : English


• Abstract : Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv musacearum was reported in Uganda in 2001. It spread fast to Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003, Rwanda in 2004 and Tanzania in 2005. Infected plants die, fruits are rendered inedible. Disease spread between plants is mainly by insect pollinators and contaminated farm tools. To establish the status of BXW in Western Kenya, a disease survey was conducted in September, 2006 in 14 districts located in Western and Nyanza Provinces. Wilted bananas were observed in Teso, Bungoma, Nyamira and Busia districts. Symptoms were similar to those previously reported in Uganda. Pathogenicity tests confirmed the causal organism as Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum. The outbreak in western Kenya is significant because this region produces over 60 percentage of bananas in Kenya and, therefore, could have serious consequences on food and income security of small-scale banana farmers.


• Keywords : BXW; KENYA; DISEASE SPREAD


• Open access : No


• Musalit document ID : IN120009

If you want to link this record, use this url : www.musalit.org/seeMore.php?id=13193