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Abstract: Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease is a major constraint of banana production in the Lake zone (Kagera, Mwanza
and Mara) regions of Tanzania where banana plays an important role as a staple food and cash crop. Infected plants die and fruits
rendered inedible. To assess the current status of BXW disease field surveys were conducted from December, 2011 to January, 2012 in
Kagera, Mwanza and Mara regions. Twenty eighty banana samples with BXW disease symptoms were randomly collected from a total of
147 surveyed fields. Farmers’ knowledge of BXW disease was assessed using a checklist, discussions and direct field observations.
Isolation of bacteria was done on Yeast Peptone Glucose Agar and identification was done based on morphological, biochemical and
pathogenicity test. Results indicated that the incidence of BXW disease was highest (56.7 %) at Ihangiro and the lowest (10 %) at Ruhija
and Mulela, in Muleba District; Nakamwa and Busagami, in Ukerewe District. Such results implied that, BXW disease is still a
constraint to banana production in the surveyed districts. The results also indicated that BXW pathogen transmission was through
infected farming tools (65.4 %) in Muleba District and infected planting materials in Tarime (50.5 %) and Ukerewe (45.8 %) Districts
implying that these were the major means by which BXW disease was spread in the study area. About 58.33 % and 41.67 % of the
farmers in Ibare and Kishanda villages, respectively, in Muleba District associated pied crow (Corvus albus L.) with the transmission of
BXW causing pathogen. Results based on morphological, biochemical and pathogenicity test indicated that, four out of 16 bacteria
isolated from infected banana samples were Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm). Further studies on the relationship
between the pied crow and Xcm transmission in Kagera, Mara and Mwanza regions, are recommended. |
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