First report of a ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ isolate associated with banana elephantiasis disease in Colombia

Abstract

In 2016 and 2017, banana elephantiasis disease (BED) has significantly lowered both yield and commercial value of banana cultivars 'Gros Michel' (Musa acuminata) and 'Dominico Harton' (Musa balbisiana). Yield reductions of 9-71.6% have been reported in eight municipalities of Ulloa and Alcalá in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. BED causes an overgrowth of the pseudostem-rhizome junction generating longitudinal and transverse ruptures that lead to the collapse of the whole plant. The banana suckers exhibit necrotic tips which limit the plant's development, the petioles remain rigid with a bunchy appearance, fruit size is reduced and finally, the rhizome develops conically. The causal pathogen was isolated and identified as Phytoplasma asteris based on molecular analysis. The obtained sequences were deposited in GenBank as accession numbers MF629790 and MF662673. This is thought to be the first report of banana elephantiasis disease caused by P. asteris on bananas in Colombia.