ELISA Test for Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)
  • BBTD is diagnosed by identifying symptoms of diseased plants or by submitting a banana leaf sample for virus testing
  • ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a chemcial test for diagnosis of banana bunchy top disease, using banana plant sap from leaves
  • The ELISA sampling protocol and submission proccess is described below

ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) for diagnosis of banana bunchy top disease


A diagnostic kit is used to test banana plant sap for the presence of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV).




A color change (dark wells) indicates the sap samples tested positive for BBTV. Each well in the plate represents a plant or sample.



Don't forget to cut a piece of the leaf midrib (the main vein) to include in your sample




How to sample for banana bunchy top virus?

1. Select the 3rd (third) leaf from the top of the plant, not counting the youngest unfurled "cigar leaf."

2. Cut a section from the center of the leaf, including the midrib. Submit the leaf lamina and the midrib together.

3. Keep the sample in a plastic bag in a cool, dry place and mail or bring it to the nearest UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service office.

Note
: Contact the University office before sending or bringing the sample to the office in order to determine the current cost for testing a sample, the best day of the week for submitting the sample, how to make payment, how to package it, and when the results can be expected.

Photographs are courtesy of the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture


Maintained by Scot Nelson: snelson@hawaii.edu
Last Revised on September 12, 2006