Banana Bunchy Top Disease in Hawaii: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Management

Banana bunchy top disease in Hawaii: recent articles and press releases

NEW: Read the latest newspaper article by UH-CTAHR County Agent Jari Sugano (Aril 2005) about banana bunchy top:

the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Apr/08/il/il08a.html

The purpose of this compilation is to document some of the recent press and media coverage about the outbreaks of banana bunchy top on the island of Hawaii, and to provide an historical chronology of HDOA press releases regarding BBTV in the state of Hawaii from 1999-2004. HDOA and CTAHR and the banana industry contributed to the reports. Compiled by S. C. Nelson <snelson@hawaii.edu>

For educational purposes only; copyrights are held by the respective newspapers

Hawaii Tribune-Herald
West Hawaii Today
Hawaii Department of Agriculture Press Releases (1999-2004)
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Advertiser
KPUA
Pacific Beat
KITV News 4
Environment Hawaii
The Washington Times

1. HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD (April - May 2004)

4/18/04
Hawaii Tribune-Herald

HILO (AP) - Banana bunchy top virus, which infects plants, deforms fruit and eventually ends new growth, has been detected for the first time on the windward side of the Big Island, the heart of the state's $8.4 million banana industry. State agriculture officials reported the virus this week on the 200-acre Keaau Banana Plantation. It was detected in 13 of 25 fields at the plantation and may have spread undetected for a year before it was discovered, said Nilton Matayoshi, of the state Department of Agriculture's plant pest control branch. Farmers stand to lose millions if the virus spreads further, but remain hopeful it can be eradicated. "It is pretty technical how you handle this," said Richard Ha, president and owner of Mauna Kea Banana Company and Keaau Banana Plantation. "I am optimistic that we can take care of this problem." Ha has about 85 acres of bananas in Keaau and another 500 acres near Pepeekeo, making him the largest grower in the state. Surveys of his Keaau fields found the disease on the Williams Cavendish variety and to a lesser extent on the apple banana portion of the crop. Ha said he has no idea yet how much lost crops or controlling the virus outbreak could cost him. The virus was first observed in Hawaii in 1989 on Oahu, where the infestation has spread too far to be eliminated. Efforts to contain the virus on Kauai, where it turned up in 1997, also have failed. In 1999 the state Department of Agriculture oversaw the destruction of all banana plants from a 10-square-mile area around Kailua after the virus was observed on the leeward side of the Big Island. State workers and volunteers - including teams of workers sent over by Ha - destroyed 175,000 banana plants in the effort to contain the virus. However, in 2002 the virus was again detected in Kona and efforts to stamp it out continue there. The virus was first discovered in Kona in 1996 but initial efforts to eradicate it failed. Ha said he doesn't think it will be necessary to remove entire crops as was done in Kona. "It depends on how far and wide it has spread," he said. "We'll try to move as quickly as possible to contain this." Ha said his workers are already spraying pesticide to kill the aphids that spread the virus. Sandra Lee Kunimoto, chairwoman of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture, said the disease could severely impact the industry if it is found to be widespread in Keaau. Agricultural inspectors will be temporarily assigned to the Big Island from Maui, Kauai and Oahu to canvass Keaau neighborhoods to determine if the virus has spread off the plantation, Matayoshi said. Plants infected with the banana bunchy top virus suffer from severely stunted growth in the plant crown, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Infected plants produce deformed and stunted fruit, and in advanced stages of the disease the plants do not yield any fruit at all. The virus can enter new areas by people moving and planting infected young plants, but Ha said it is not known how the virus reached Keaau. Ha said there has always been a concern that aphids might be carried by a storm from Kona to East Hawaii. He said a researcher has also told him that the aphids have been found in the jet stream. "There's just no way to know," he said.

4/23/04

Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Banana virus found too late
By DAVE SMITH

A banana virus discovered recently in Keaau has already spread too far to be eradicated, state agriculture officials said Thursday. But that's not deterring the state's efforts to minimize the impacts of the disease. The banana bunchy top virus was found on a Keaau banana farm and reported to the state last week. Larry Nakahara, head of the Department of Agriculture's Plant Pest Control Branch, said surveys indicate that the virus may have infected plants at the Keaau Banana Plantation for a year or more. "From what we've seen, it's beyond eradication," Nakahara said. "We're in a management mode now." Personnel from the agriculture department have been brought in from other islands to do an intensive survey of the Keaau area. The crews have found banana bunchy top three miles away from Keaau Banana Plantation. It has been found around homes and at Kipuka Farms, which is located on the Keaau-Pahoa Road. Nakahara said residents can help by inspecting banana plants in their yard and surrounding area for signs of infection. If an infected plant is found, they should call the Department of Agriculture at 974-4140. Department employees will confirm whether the disease is present and will "rogue" or kill infected plants using an injection of herbicide. Officials cautioned residents not to cut down or try to remove the infected plant as that can spread the banana aphids which carry the disease. Particularly worrisome to agriculture officials is the prospect that someone might try to haul a diseased plant to the landfill or other area, and in doing so leave a trail of aphids carrying the virus. Agriculture officials are interested in learning of any banana plants that may have been moved out of the Keaau area to help them track the disease's possible spread. "Vigilance is going to help prevent the spread to the neighbor's place," said Scot C. Nelson, a researcher with the University of Hawaii's Cooperative Extension Service. The aphids can be controlled by commercially available insecticide soaps, but banana plants must be thoroughly soaked to reach under leaf sheaths where aphid colonies are usually found. The banana aphid is the only way the virus is spread - except for humans moving infected plants or plant parts from one place to another - but the aphids also can be found on other kinds of plants. Those other aphid hosts, which include heliconia and flowering ginger, don't become infected but can harbor aphids that are. Early symptoms of banana bunchy top include streaking on the veins of leaves and on the leaf stem. Scientists call it "Morse-code" streaking because the markings are irregular. Another sign of infection are "J-hooks," markings of the vein at the leaf's mid-rib. In mature plants the virus causes new leaves to become narrower, with yellow leaf margins that are wavy rather than flat. It also causes the leaves to become "bunched" at the top. Severely infected plants usually will not fruit and any bananas produced will likely be deformed, although they are safe to eat. Young plants or suckers coming from infected plants will not fruit at all, Nelson said. "It's a very devastating disease," he said. "It's a major threat to our banana industry." Agriculture officials and banana growers have been dreading the spread of the disease to East Hawaii, where 75 percent of the state's $8.3 million worth of bananas are grown each year. The aphids can acquire the disease after as little as four minutes of feeding on an infected plant. Nelson said the virus can be spread to the next plant on which it feeds. "We refer to them as flying syringes," he said. Adult aphids can live up to 26 days, and can retain and spread the virus for up to 15 of those days. Banana bunchy top has also spread too far to be eradicated on Oahu, where it was first detected in 1989, and on Kauai where it first showed up in 1997. The virus was found in Pukalani, Maui, in December. Workers at the infected plantations in Puna are carrying out an intense spraying program for the aphids. That, combined with plantings of disease-free plants and "constant surveillance," is how Oahu banana farmers are coping with the disease, officials said. The virus also turned up in 1995 in Kona. Efforts to stem that outbreak were unsuccessful despite killing 175,000 banana trees in a 10-square mile area around Kailua. Infestations in that quarantine area have been observed as recently as two months ago. Nakahara said it would not be feasible to try to do the same thing around Keaau because the area of the outbreak is not as well defined as it was in Kona, where the infected area was more isolated. The Keaau area also contains numerous "wild" banana plants which would be more difficult to monitor. Scientists are continuing efforts to develop a genetically-engineered banana that would resist the virus. Farmers have had success with a similar effort to combat the ringspot virus in papayas. Researchers are also looking at further use of biological controls including a parasitic wasp and the ladybird beetle, both of which have become established in Hawaii through previous intentional releases. Dave Smith can be reached at dsmith@hawaiitribune-herald.com

5/2/04
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Banana virus detected in another Big Island area
Staff and wire services

HONOLULU - A devastating banana virus is being reported in the Kohala area on the northern tip of the Big Island, two weeks after it was found on a Keaau farm south of Hilo, state agriculture officials said. State inspectors, however, say they believe the virus has been present in backyard plants in Kohala for several years, the state Department of Agriculture said Friday. The banana bunchy top virus, which deforms fruit and eventually ends new growth, was found on three residential properties in the Halaula, Kapaau and Hawi areas in Kohala. State officials are asking people in the area who have moved banana plants out of the Kohala area in the past three years to contact the Department of Agriculture in Hilo at 974-4140. They had previously asked that any movements of banana plants from Keaau be reported. Agriculture officials are also investigating reports that some banana plants sold at the Hilo farmers market may have come from Keaau and could be infected. The department began conducting surveys on the east and north areas of the Big Island after the April 12 report of the virus at the Keaau Banana Plantation. Inspectors have not found the virus in Hilo yet. State officials said last week that surveys indicated the virus may have infected plants at the Keaau Banana Plantation for a year or more, and that the virus already is too widespread for eradication in the area. The state has obtained an emergency exemption from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the use of the pesticide Provado to try and kill the aphids that carry and spread the banana virus. The exemption applies only to East Hawaii, the heart of Hawaii's $8.4 million banana industry, and the pesticide can be used only by certified applicators. The insecticide is used to control pests in soil, and in seeds and foliage, but is not currently labeled for use on banana plants. Because of the threat to Hawaii's banana industry, the state asked for the emergency approval and hopes to get similar approval to use the pesticide on other islands. The aphids can be controlled by commercially available insecticide soaps, but banana plants must be thoroughly soaked to reach under leaf sheaths where aphid colonies are usually found. Early symptoms of banana bunchy top include streaking on the veins of leaves and on the leaf stem. The virus causes new leaves on mature plants to become narrower, and also causes the leaves to become "bunched" at the top. Severely infected plants usually will not produce fruit and, while any bananas produced will likely be deformed, they are safe to eat. Banana bunchy top virus also gas been found on Oahu, on Kauai from Hanalei to Lawai, and on Maui in Pukalani and Makawao. On the Internet:Hawaii Department of Agriculture, www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/

5/05/04
Hawaii Tribune Herald
Dang! Dreaded Bunchy Top Virus Found
By Virginia Easton Smith
DANG! BANANA BUNCHY TOP DISEASE IS BACK
By Virginia Easton Smith

The day some people had dreaded is here, Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) has been found in East Hawaii, by far the largest banana production area in the state. It is relatively widespread around Keaau as well as in the North Kohala district, and is still found on occasion in the North Kona district. This disease is very contagious among bananas and can remain virtually undetected for a period of time. Because initial symptoms can be subtle the disease could have progressed to the extent it has before it was detected. The occurrence of the disease can not be blamed on any single farm or individual. The farm in Keaau where the disease was first reported is taking drastic measures, at great expense, to reduce the threat of the disease to the region. The most drastic action is knocking down literally thousands of banana plants, when only a very small percentage of them were identified by Department of Agriculture as being diseased. Please note that the virus does not infect humans, animals or even other plants and virus infected bananas are perfectly safe to eat. BBTV is spread by the banana aphid, which passes it from infected to healthy plants. About one month later symptoms of the disease appear. The first symptoms are dark green streaks near the base of the petiole (or leafstalk), and later along the veins of the leaf. Rubbing off the white fuzzy wax on the petiole may make it easier to see the streaks. It is a characteristic of Bunchy Top that the streaks are usually broken rather than continuous. The series of dots and dashes are sometimes referred to as "Morse code" streaking. As the disease progresses, the streaks become easily visible on the leaf blades. These streaks have a characteristic "hook" at the point where they meet the midrib. If fruit is produced, some of the hands may have fruit that is twisted and deformed. The most reliable indicator of the disease is abnormal appearance of the emerging leaf, but by this point the disease has already progressed quite far. Keiki that develop after infection will likely be severely stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance at the top of the plant. Leaves are very short and much narrower than usual. The edges of the leaves are generally yellow, or brown and dry. If you see what you think are Bunchy Top Virus-diseased plants, call the Pest Control Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Hilo at 974-4140 so they can check the plants and tell you how to proceed. insecticidal soaps or oils can be sprayed to kill at least some of the aphids. Because it is caused by a virus, which quickly spreads throughout the entire mat, infected clumps of bananas must be properly and completely removed. To learn more about the disease and to see pictures of the symptoms go to www.ctahr.hawaii.edu and look for the Bunchy Top link near the bottom of the page. The University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH CTAHR) will be producing a video to be shown on public access cable TV, as well as additional printed and on-line materials. An insecticide known as Provado (imidacloprid) which is close to being registered for use in all banana orchards, was recently cleared for emergency use in East Hawaii to control the aphids that spread BBTV. This product is widely used on many other food crops (as well as on dogs, for fleas). The value of the banana crop to our state in 2002 was $8.4 million dollars at the farm gate. The farm gate is what the grower receives; the actual value in our economy is much greater, probably by a factor of three, due to the multiplier effect. The multiplier effect takes into account the money that moves through the economy not just at the farm gate, but also to farm laborers, wholesalers, retailers, processors, and manufacturers. The bottom line is that it is not just the commercial growers that suffer if their crops are infected with a serious disease, although they are the ones that will be most seriously impacted. UH CTAHR, in conjunction with state agencies and the banana industry, is considering how to provide replacement plants for those areas heavily affected by the disease. Please do not move banana planting material from one area of the island to another until more is known about the distribution of the disease on the island. One announcement of an upcoming event, the second annual Hawaii Island Seed Exchange will be at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook on Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. It is an opportunity for farmers, backyard gardeners, and others to share seeds and cuttings of their favorite plants with others. The theme of this year's exchange is "Growing Hawaiian Canoe Crops". Keala Ching will perform an opening chant and entertainment. While the emphasis will be on trading seeds and cuttings, several speakers will be on hand during the morning, Alvin Yoshinaga of Lyon Arboretum will discuss small-scale seed storage techniques, Jerry Konanui will speak about the importance of and techniques for growing and saving Hawaiian taro varieties. Ken Love will share his knowledge of growing tropical fruit varieties from seed and Nancy Redfeather will give a brief summary of the importance of seed preservation in this day and age. The Hawaii Island Seed Exchange is hosted by Amy Greenwell Garden (a part of Bishop Museum) and the Know Your Farmer Alliance. Admission is free. Seeds and cuttings brought for exchange should be packaged and labeled. For more information, please call 323-3318. This information is provided by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. For more information call the Cooperative Extension Service in Hilo at 981-5199 or in Kainaliu at 322-4892.

2. WEST HAWAII TODAY
Sunday, May 2, 2004
Banana Bunchy Top Virus found in Kohala
West Hawaii Today
By KIM EATON

Tests conducted by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) this week found several backyard banana plants in the Kohala area infected with the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV). Infected areas included Halaula, Kapaau and Hawi. State inspectors say they believe the virus has been present in Kohala's backyard banana plants for several years. BBTV is a disease spread by the banana aphid, a soft-body insect that congregates on banana plants. The aphid will feed on a diseased plant, then feed off an uninfected plant, spreading the disease, Larry Nakahara said. Nakahara, manager of the plant pest control branch with HDOA, said the disease is also spread by people moving infected plants into an uninfected area. Keaau Banana Plantation, a 200-acre East Hawaii banana farm, reported the BBTV infection to HDOA April 12. "We have been able to keep the virus out of the prime banana growing areas for the past 15 years, but now it has hit East Hawaii," Nakahara said. "The disease has never been found in East Hawaii, so it has created a crisis." Although monetary damage has not yet been determined, HDOA is concentrating on how far the virus has spread from the Keaau area, he said. An emergency exemption has been obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the use of the pesticide Provado in killing the aphids that spread the disease. Provado, a product not labeled for general use on banana plants, has been approved for East Hawaii farmers. Although the cost is relatively high, the insecticide is more effective, longer-lasting and powerful, Nakahara said. "Even if the cost is high, it will be worth it to head off this crisis," he said. HDOA Public Information Officer Janelle Saneishi said BBTV is not harmful to humans, but deadly for banana plants. "Once a plant becomes infected, it must be destroyed," she said. "This disease is a virus, and it spreads. Once it spreads, it is difficult to control." "Infected plants exhibit severely stunted growth in the plant crown, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Younger leaves are stunted with yellowish leaf edges and may curl upward. Infected plants produce deformed and stunted fruits," Saneishi said. BBTV has been widespread on Oahu for about 10 years. Attempts to keep it from spreading to the other islands have not been successful, she added. Nakahara said a quarantine coincided with a $500,000 eradication project held in Kona in January 2000 and ended in 2001. A total of 175,000 banana trees in a 10-square-mile area were destroyed during the project. About a year after the project ended, HDOA received reports of infected plants in West Hawaii. Since the end of the project, eight infected banana plants have been found, he added. "The fact we are finding diseased plants means the eradication project was not very successful," Nakahara said. "One thing the survey has found is we are not planning on doing another eradication project for East Hawaii. It does not make sense, and it is not feasible." "The quarantine signs were placed to serve as a good educational reminder for individuals not to remove infected plants," he added. BBTV has also been found in areas on Kauai and Maui.
keaton@westhawaiitoday.com

05/06/2004
West Hawaii Today
By Virginia Easton Smith
DANG! BANANA BUNCHY TOP DISEASE IS BACK AND SPREADING
By Virginia Easton Smith

The day some people have dreaded is here, Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) has spread from the Kona districts to other parts of the island. It has been found in East Hawaii, by far the largest banana production area in the state. It has also been found in the North Kohala district, and on occasion is still found in the North Kona district. Please note that the virus does not infect humans, animals or even other plants and virus infected bananas are perfectly safe to eat. This disease is very contagious among bananas and can remain virtually undetected for a period of time because the initial symptoms can be subtle. It will take a cooperative community effort to prevent the virus from spreading further. Please do not move banana planting material from one area of the island to another until more is known about the distribution of the disease on the island. The farm in Keaau where the disease was first reported is taking drastic measures to reduce the threat of the disease to the region. The most drastic action is knocking down literally thousands of banana plants, when only a very small percentage of them were identified by Department of Agriculture as being diseased. BBTV is spread by the banana aphid, which passes it from infected to healthy plants. About one month later symptoms of the disease appear. The first symptoms are dark green streaks near the base of the petiole (or leafstalk), and later along the veins of the leaf. Rubbing off the white fuzzy wax on the petiole may make it easier to see the streaks. It is a characteristic of Bunchy Top that the streaks are usually broken rather than continuous. The series of dots and dashes are sometimes referred to as "Morse code" streaking. As the disease progresses, the streaks become easily visible on the leaf blades. These streaks have a characteristic dark green "hook" at the point where they meet the midrib. If fruit is produced, some of the hands may have fruit that is twisted and deformed. The most reliable indicator of the disease is abnormal appearance of the emerging leaf, but by this point the disease has already progressed quite far. Keiki that develop after infection will likely be severely stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance at the top of the plant. Leaves are very short and much narrower than usual. The edges of the leaves are generally yellow, or brown and dry. If you see what you think are Bunchy Top Virus-diseased plants, call the Pest Control Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Hilo at 974-4140 so they can check the plants and tell you how to proceed. Insecticidal soaps or oils can be sprayed to kill at least some of the aphids. Because it is caused by a virus, which quickly spreads throughout the entire mat, infected clumps of bananas must be properly and completely removed. The value of the banana crop to our state in 2002 was $8.4 million dollars at the farm gate. The farm gate is what the grower receives; the actual value in our economy is much greater, probably by a factor of three, due to the multiplier effect. The multiplier effect takes into account the money that moves through the economy not just at the farm gate, but also to farm laborers, wholesalers, retailers, processors, and manufacturers. The bottom line is that it is not just the commercial growers that suffer if their crops are infected with a serious disease, although they are the ones that will be most seriously impacted. UH CTAHR, in conjunction with state agencies and the banana industry, is considering how to provide replacement plants for those areas heavily affected by the disease. To learn more about the disease and to see additional pictures of the symptoms go to the University of Hawaii webpage, www.ctahr.hawaii.edu, and look for the Bunchy Top link near the bottom of the page. Home gardeners can call the Master Gardener Hotline for more information about Banana Bunchy Top Virus or any other gardening and home landscaping topics. The Hotline hours are Monday 3-6:00 p.m. at 329-0462, Tuesday and Friday mornings 9:00-noon at 981-5199, and on Thursday mornings from 9:00-noon at 322-4892. All home gardening questions should be directed to the Hotline which is a free service provided by the UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service and the Kona Outdoor Circle. An upcoming event open to all plant lovers is the second annual Hawaii Island Seed Exchange, which will be at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook on Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. It is an opportunity for farmers, backyard gardeners, and others to share seeds and cuttings of their favorite plants with others. The theme of this year's exchange is "Growing Hawaiian Canoe Crops". Keala Ching will perform an opening chant and entertainment. While the emphasis will be on trading seeds and cuttings, several speakers will be on hand during the morning, Alvin Yoshinaga of Lyon Arboretum will discuss small-scale seed storage techniques, Jerry Konanui will speak about the importance of and techniques for growing and saving Hawaiian taro varieties. Ken Love will share his knowledge of growing tropical fruit varieties from seed and Nancy Redfeather will give a brief summary of the importance of seed preservation in this day and age. The Hawaii Island Seed Exchange is hosted by Amy Greenwell Garden (a part of Bishop Museum) and the Know Your Farmer Alliance. Admission is free. Seeds and cuttings brought for exchange should be packaged and labeled. For more information, please call 323-3318. This information is provided by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. For more information call the Cooperative Extension Service in Hilo at 981-5199 or in Kainaliu at 322-4892.

3. HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BBTV PRESS RELEASES (1999-2004)

a) ISLAND OF HAWAII NEWS RELEASES (HDOA)
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
News Release 99-02
January 15, 1999
Declaration of War on Banana Bunchy Top Virus
Project Eradication Launched on the Big Island

Today, State and County officials, along with representatives from Hawaii's banana and farming industries declared war on the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), a very serious disease of bananas. The group announced its plans for Project Eradication calling for the removal of all banana plants within a 10 square mile infestation zone in the North Kona District on the Big Island. "With Big Island banana growers producing two-thirds of the State's bananas, protecting this island's banana industry is an important part of our diversified agriculture program and we would like to thank the farmers and residents involved in the eradication for their cooperation and recognition of the importance of this project," said Hawaii County Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro. "Eradication of BBTV from North Kona is a wise investment. By preventing the spread of the disease to other parts of the Big Island, we can protect our market share and encourage the expansion of diversified agriculture. Just as important, all of us on the Big Island can continue to grow and enjoy the bananas that we are now able to grow in our backyards." "Banana farmers, their families, and everyone who want to protect our precious environment need the help of all our citizens," said Hawaii County Council Chairman James Arakaki. "The men and women of the banana industry and the Mayor have taken an important first step towards saving our island's banana crop. By working together, we can meet this challenge. Everyone supports agriculture. Here's our chance to demonstrate that support." Residents living in the infestation zone in the North Kona District are being requested to cooperate by allowing State Department of Agriculture personnel to treat and kill all banana plants. Surveys indicate more than 5,500 homes and farms within the infestation zone would be impacted. This yearlong eradication effort is projected to cost an estimated $300,000. "On behalf of the Big Island banana farmers, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the sacrifices that are being asked of residents and farmers living in North Kona," said Big Island Banana Growers Association President Delan Perry. "With a successful eradication effort, there is great potential for Hawaii's banana industry, especially now following recent approval by the federal government allowing locally-grown green bananas to be exported to new markets including the U.S. mainland and Guam." Under Project Eradication, State Department of Agriculture personnel will be going house-to-house canvassing the North Kona District. All banana plants will be injected with a lethal dose of herbicide. In most cases, treated plants should wither and die within a two-week period. There may be cases in which new shoots will need to be retreated. To prevent further spread of the disease to other areas, withering plants should not be disposed of until plants are completely dried. The infestation zone in the North Kona District is bordered on the north by a line from Keahole Point to the junction of Kaiminani Drive and Queen Kaahumanu Highway, along Kaiminani Drive to the junction of Kaiminani Drive and Mamalahoa Highway, and continuing mauka of this junction. The southern boarder is set by a line running mauka from Keauhou Bay. This line runs between the Keauhou 1st ahupua'a and Keauhou 2nd ahupua'a. The forest tree line represents the eastern border, while the ocean represents the western border. The entire Palisades and Kalaoa Subdivisions are considered within the zone. The zone was determined by plant experts from the State Department of Agriculture and University of Hawaii-College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, based on findings of diseased plants, wind pattern, and buffer zones. The destruction of all banana plants within the zone is estimated to take eight months, given no delays. Once every banana plant is killed, there will be a three-month waiting period. This is a precautionary measure to prevent reinfestation with the transmittal of the virus by its carrier, the banana aphid. In the best case scenario, residents in the North Kona District could begin replanting disease-free banana keikis in January, 2000. "Often times government is criticized for not doing enough; in this case, we are aggressively working to eliminate BBTV from the Big Island but we need the support of the community," stressed James J. Nakatani, Chairperson for the State Department of Agriculture. We recognize the sacrifices at hand, but there is no other recourse. The Department has tried other alternatives which have resulted in slowing the spread of the disease. We were successful in eradicating BBTV on Kauai, and there's no reason why we can't make it happen in Kona by following the same strategy with the removal of all banana plants within an infestation zone." Big Island residents outside of the zone can help by reporting any banana plant with disease-like symptoms. Infected plants are stunted and produce small, deformed fruits. In advanced stages of the disease, plants do not produce any fruit. The younger leaves of an infected plant are stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance at the top of the plant. The edges of the leaves are yellowish and may curl upward. Early signs of an infected plant may show dark green streaks on the back of the stem portion of leaves. Everyone can assist by not moving any banana plant or plant parts from BBTV infested areas. State law prohibits the movement of banana plants and plant parts from Oahu and the North Kona District of the island of Hawaii -- BBTV infested areas -- to other islands within the State. Anyone caught moving banana plants and plant parts from Oahu and the Big Island can face fines between $100 and $10,000, per violation. For more information on the eradication project, or to report any infected banana plant, Big Island residents are urged to contact their nearest State Department of Agriculture Office at (808) 323-4565 (Kona Office) or (808) 974-4140 (Hilo Office). Residents are also invited to attend an informational meeting on January 20, 7:00 PM, at the Holualoa Amin Center. Partner agencies participating in Project Eradication include the State Department of Agriculture, County Council of Hawaii, County of Hawaii, the Big Island Banana Growers Association, the Hawaii County Farm Bureau, and the University of Hawaii-College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources-Cooperative Extension Service.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
News Release 99-03
March 29, 1999
Update on Eradication of Banana Bunchy Top from the Big Island

"Project Eradication," an effort to eliminate a very serious banana disease, the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) is progressing. The project which calls for the removal of all banana plants in the North Kona District on the Big Island was launched on January 15, 1999. "The response from the community has been unbelievable and the majority of residences we have visited thus far have been very cooperative understanding the need to take out all banana plants to preserve the future ability to grow bananas in our backyards, as well as commercially, " said project leader Guy Nagai, State Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Specialist. "Since the launching of Project Eradication, the Department has received more than 200 calls from concerned residents, many of whom are asking when we will be coming to remove their banana plants. That's not to say that we haven't had a few people who have been in opposition to having their banana plants treated and destroyed." Thus far, the Department has had to take legal action against one part-time resident, Richard Mayer, who refused entry onto his property for the removal of all banana plants. On Thursday, March 18, District Judge Joseph Florendo Jr. granted a search warrant which allowed Department personnel to enter, treat, and destroy 173 banana plants growing at his residence. As for the area impacted, the virus is still believed to be contained to a 10 square mile infestation zone in the North Kona District between Palani Junction and Donkey Mill Road in Keauhou mauka. An estimated 1600 homes and 3 commercial farms are believed to have banana plants within the infestation zone. The Department responded to about 50 reports of possible diseased plants located outside of the infestation zone, all of which tested to be free of BBTV. The method of removing this serious disease from the Big Island is modeled after a strategy used in a successful eradication project in Kilauea, on Kauai involving herbicide treatment and destruction of all banana plants within an infestation zone. The removal of all banana plants is necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, especially because newly infected plants may show no symptoms. With the removal of all host plants, the virus cannot be spread by a tiny insect called the banana aphid which feeds on diseased banana plants and relocates and infects healthy banana plants. Project Eradication is still on schedule with replanting of disease-free banana keikis slated to occur in January, 2000, given no delays. Big Island residents living outside the zone are still being asked to report any banana plants with disease-like symptoms. Infected plants are stunted and produce small, deformed fruits. In advanced stages of the disease, plants do not produce any fruit. The younger leaves of an infected plant are stunted resulting in a bunchy appearance at the top of the plant. The edges of the leave are yellowish and may curl upward. Early signs of an infected plant may show dark green streaks on the back of the stem portion of leaves. State law prohibits the movement of banana plants and plant parts from Oahu and the North Kona District on the Big Island -- BBTV infested areas -- to uninfested areas of the Big Island and other neighbor islands. Anyone caught moving banana plants and plant parts from infested areas can face fines between $100 and $10,000 per violation. For more information on Project Eradication, or to report any infected banana plant, Big Island residents are urged to contact their nearest State Department of Agriculture Office at (808)323-4565 (Kona Office) or (808)974-4140 (Hilo Office). For further details contact: Guy Nagai, Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Specialist and project leader at (808) 323-4565.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR 99-16
November 3, 1999
Final "Push" to Eradicate Serious Banana Disease from Kona
The State Department of Agriculture is conducting a final "push" to eradicate the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) from Kona on the Big Island. The target is to treat and destroy all banana plants in a 10 square mile infestation zone in North Kona District by the end of this year. "Eradicating BBTV from Kona is critical in preventing the spread of this serious disease of banana to the eastside of the island, where the state's major banana producing area lies," said Department of Agriculture Chairperson James J. Nakatani. "Project Eradication began at the start of the year and more than 400 property owners have been very cooperative resulting in the destruction of nearly 40,000 banana plants. But progress is not fast enough, so the Department has dedicated more staff to complete the project." In an effort to destroy all diseased plants in the infested area, an additional 15 department workers have been selected to canvas homes and treat any banana plants located on those properties. The department estimates approximately 800 more households have banana plants that need to be destroyed. Banana plants are killed by puncturing the trunk with a screwdriver and injecting the plants with a herbicide, Roundup Ultra. Within couple of weeks from treatment, plants wither and die. Property owners have been asked to keep the withering plants on their property until the materials have completely decomposed so that infected materials are not moved to uninfested areas. A serious viral disease of banana plants, BBTV was discovered on Oahu in 1989; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 1995; and Kilauea, Kauai in 1997. It has since been declared eradicated from Kilauea, Kauai in December, 1998 following a similar eradication effort in which all banana plants in a BBTV infestation zone were destroyed. On Oahu, BBTV is too widespread and eradication is not a feasible solution. Infected banana plants are stunted and produce small, deformed fruits. In advanced stages of the disease, plants do not produce any fruit. Infected banana plants are useless and serve only as a source of the virus. A tiny insect called the banana aphid spreads the disease by carrying the virus to healthy plants after feeding on infected plants. Since there is no cure for BBTV, in order to eradicate the disease all banana plants within the infestation zone - whether showing symptoms or not - must be destroyed in order to eliminate both the aphid vector and the virus host (banana plants). Keep in mind that newly infected or tolerant banana plants may not show symptoms but may still carry the virus. The most common method of spreading the disease is with people moving and planting infected banana plants. A quarantine is in place prohibiting the movement of banana plants and plant parts from Oahu, and the North Kona and South Kona Districts of the island of Hawaii - infested BBTV areas - to other islands and localities within the state. Violation of this rule may result in fines between $100 to $10,000. On the Big Island, if you have any questions about the eradication project or suspect that your banana plants may be infected with BBTV, please contact the Department of Agriculture at 974-4140 (Hilo Office). Media contact: for photo opportunities or questions on Project Eradication, contact the Department's Project Leader Guy Nagai at (808)651-1672.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR 00-03
March 8, 2000
Some Kona Residents Resisting State Efforts to Eradicate the Banana Bunchy Top Virus on the Big Island
Honolulu - The state Department of Agriculture is renewing its request for the cooperation of North Kona residents to identify and destroy all banana plants in the area, in an effort to rid West Hawaii of the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). An aggressive eradication program, dubbed "Project Eradication," has been ongoing for the past year; however, some Kona residents are not cooperating with agriculture officials. BBTV-infected banana plants continue to be found within the 10-square-mile infestation zone (from Palani Junction south to Kahaluu Farmlots). If people are aware of banana plants growing in the North Kona area, they are urged to call the Department of Agriculture in Hilo at 974-4140. BBTV is a serious viral disease of banana plants and is a major threat to the Big Island's $4 million banana industry. The virus is spread by the banana aphid and, more commonly, by people moving and planting infected young plants. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV and the only sure method of controlling its spread is to destroy all the plants in the affected area. The mission of Project Eradication is to eradicate BBTV in Kona before it can spread to the Big Island's east side, which is the state's major banana-producing area. A few dozen Kona residents have resisted the efforts of Project Eradication and have refused to allow Department of Agriculture personnel on their property to destroy banana plants. Under the circumstances, the state may be forced to obtain court orders to complete the eradication program. "While most North Kona property owners have been cooperative, those who deny us access to banana plants are actually extending the time period that everyone is not allowed to grow bananas," said James J. Nakatani, Chairperson for the Department of Agriculture. "We are still finding banana plants infected with the bunchy top virus in North Kona, so it's important that we get to every single banana plant in the area. Otherwise, we risk another infestation a year or two down the road and then we face having to repeat this eradication process again." Project Eradication in North Kona had initially been expected to be completed by the end of 1999. Agriculture personnel have been brought in from Oahu and Kauai to accelerate the eradication program and canvas neighborhoods for backyard banana plants. The Department of Agriculture is trying to complete BBTV eradication by the end of March. After the last banana plant in the area has been destroyed, a three-month quarantine period will follow to insure that the disease has been totally eradicated. In the meantime, a quarantine prohibiting the movement of banana plants and banana parts will continue in effect on Oahu, and in the North and South Kona districts. Violations of this rule may result in fines between $100 to $10,000. The same BBTV eradication process on a smaller scale was successful in eradicating the disease on the island of Kauai in 1998. On Oahu, BBTV is too widespread to make eradication feasible. Since January 1999, approximately 33,000 banana plants have been destroyed in the Kona area. Banana plants are killed by puncturing the trunk with a screwdriver and injecting the plants with the herbicide, Roundup Ultra. Within a couple of weeks from treatment, plants wither and die Property owners have been asked to keep the withering plants on their property until the materials have completely decomposed so that infected materials are not moved to uninfested areas. Bananas are the state's 11th largest commodity, with production reaching 21 million pounds in 1998 and bringing in $7.4 million into the state's economy that year. Statistics for that year also indicate that the Big Island led the state in banana production with output of 11.1 million pounds. To report the existence of a banana plant in the infestation zone, call the Hilo office of the Department of Agriculture at 974-4140. For media inquiries, photos or photo opportunities, please call Janelle Saneishi, Public Information Officer, in Honolulu at 973-9560.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR00-17
August 16, 2000
For Immediate Release
Eradication of Banana Bunchy Top Virus in Kona Nears Completion
North Kona - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) reports that all of the known banana plants in the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) Eradication Zone in the Kona area have been destroyed. On August 9, 2000, pursuant to a court warrant, HDOA personnel destroyed more than 750 banana plants located on seven properties by injection of a herbicide. HDOA is now concentrating its efforts on searching for and destroying any regrowth of previously destroyed banana plants and for any banana plants that may be hidden from view in order to eliminate the host material of the virus. The public is being asked to report any live banana plants within the Eradication Zone to HDOA's Kona office at 323-7594 or the Hilo office at 974-4140. The "egg-shaped" Kona Eradication Zone extends from Palani Junction (north) to the junction where Kuakini Highway, Walua Road and King Kamehameha III Road intersect (south) and from the treeline (mauka) to the coast (makai), excluding portions of Kailua-Kona and Kahaluu. After all banana plants have been destroyed in the Eradication Zone, the department will establish a three-month waiting period to insure that all affected banana aphids, the insect that transmits this disease, have died. After this waiting period, HDOA will announce a date when Kona growers and homeowners may begin to grow bananas again. In the meantime, a quarantine prohibiting the movement of banana plants and banana plant parts continues in effect on Oahu, Kauai, and in the North and South Kona districts. (Movement of banana fruit is allowed). Violations of the quarantine may result in fines up to $10,000 per incident. BBTV is a serious viral disease of banana plants and is a major threat to the Big Island's $4 million banana industry. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV and the only sure method of controlling its spread is to destroy all the plants in the affected area. Bananas are the state's 11th largest commodity, with production reaching 24.5 million pounds in 1999 and bringing in more than $8.5 million into the state's economy that year. Statistics for 1999 also indicate that the Big Island led the state in banana production with output of 11.8 million pounds. For more information on BBTV in Hawaii, call the HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch on Oahu at 973-9522.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR00-20
October 11, 2000
For Immediate Release
First Phase of Banana Bunchy Top Eradication Completed in KonaàThree-Month Waiting Period Begins
North Kona - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has determined that all known banana plants and regrowths in the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) Eradication Zone in the Kona area have been destroyed. More than 175,000 banana plants were destroyed since "Project Eradication" began in Kona in early 1999, with the last known plant destroyed yesterday afternoon. As of today, HDOA has declared a three-month waiting period to ensure that all the affected banana aphids, the insect that transmits the disease, have died. The three-month period was established according to the life cycle of the banana aphid. After this waiting period, HDOA will announce a date when Kona growers and homeowners may begin to grow bananas again. "We want to thank the Kona residents for their cooperation and ask for their continued patience as we enter this next phase of the eradication process," said James J. Nakatani, Chairperson of the Department of Agriculture. "We've come this far, and the waiting period is just as crucial to the success of the program as was the destruction of all banana plants." "Project Eradication" called for the destruction of all banana plants within an egg-shaped eradication zone which extended from Palani Junction (north) to the junction where Kuakini Highway, Walua Road and King Kamehameha III Road intersect (south) and from the treeline (mauka) to the coast (makai), excluding portions of Kailua-Kona and Kahaluu. Although the waiting period has begun, the public is still encouraged to report any live banana plants in the eradication zone to HDOA's Kona office at 323-7594 or the Hilo office at 974-4140. A quarantine prohibiting the movement of banana plants and banana plant parts continues in effect on Oahu, Kauai, and in the North and South Kona districts. (Movement of banana fruit is allowed). Violations of the quarantine may result in fines up to $10,000 per incident. BBTV is a serious viral disease of banana plants and is a major threat to the Big Island's $4 million banana industry. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV and the only sure method of controlling its spread is to destroy all the plants in the affected area. For more information on BBTV in Hawaii, call the HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch on Oahu at 973-9522.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR01-01
January 17, 2001
Banana Bunchy Top Quarantine Extended in Kona Due to Discovery of Infected Plant
North Kona - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has extended the quarantine period for the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) in North Kona due to the discovery of a diseased banana plant growing within the eradication zone. "Project Eradication," which began in early 1999, called for the destruction of all banana plants within an egg-shaped eradication zone which extended from Palani Junction (north) to the junction where Kuakini Highway, Walua Road and King Kamehameha III Road intersect (south) and from the treeline (mauka) to the coast (makai), excluding portions of Kailua-Kona and Kahaluu. More than 175,000 banana plants were destroyed during the eradication process. The zone has been in a three-month waiting period since October 11, 2000, during which no banana plants were allowed to be planted to ensure that the aphids that transmits the disease have died. In December, HDOA personnel located a residence in the northern section of the eradication zone that had replanted 20 banana plants. Upon visual inspection, one of the plants exhibited symptoms of BBTV. The owner subsequently destroyed the plants. "We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the majority of the community during this whole eradication process," said James J. Nakatani, Chairperson of HDOA. " The department realizes that it's frustrating and disappointing for people to have to continue to wait to replant; however, it is more important than ever that people obey the quarantine." Once the quarantine has been completed, disease-free apple banana and tissue-cultured Williams banana plants will be provided free to Kona residents by the Hawaii Banana Growers Association. BBTV is a serious viral disease of banana plants and is a major threat to the Big Island's $4 million banana industry. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV and the only sure method of controlling its spread is to destroy all the plants in the affected area. BBTV quarantine areas prohibiting the movement of banana plants and banana plant parts continues in effect on Oahu, Kauai, and in the North and South Kona districts. (Movement of banana fruit is allowed). For more information on BBTV in Hawaii, or to report re-growth call the HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch on Oahu at 973-9522.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR02-18
September 25, 2002
Banana Bunchy Top Virus Found in Quarantine Area in Kona
Honolulu - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has confirmed that the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) has been found on a residential property in Kailua View Estates in Kona. HDOA personnel conducting routine BBTV surveys found five infected stems of the "apple" variety banana plant on September 20, 2002. HDOA's plant pathology lab in Honolulu confirmed the presence of the virus on September 23rd. The infected banana plants have been treated with an herbicide to destroy the virus. Preliminary surveys of the immediate area found no other infestations. HDOA personnel will continue to conduct intensive surveys of the area to try and determine the source of the virus. The location of the BBTV-infected plants is within the 10-square-mile eradication zone (from Palani Junction south to Kahaluu Farmlots) in the North Kona District that completed Phase I of BBTV eradication in mid-December 2000. This is the first incidence of BBTV being found in within the eradication area since the conclusion of the project. "Project Eradication" was initiated in January 1999 and during the two-year period, HDOA surveyed more than 17,000 properties and destroyed more than 175,000 banana plants. Phase II of the eradication program began in March 2001 when residents were allowed to replant uninfected banana plants. This phase also included monitoring for possible re-emergence of the virus for five years until 2006. Although Kona residents are allowed to replant banana plants, a quarantine is still in effect that prohibits the movement of banana plants and parts, except fruits, from the North and South Kona Districts of the island to other parts of the Big Island and to other islands. BBTV is one of the most serious viral diseases of banana plants and threatens the Big Island's $4 million banana industry. It is spread by the banana aphid and, more commonly, by people moving and planting infected young plants. Symptoms of BBTV include young leaves that are stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Leaf edges are yellowish and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs may exhibit streaks which are darker in color. As the disease progresses, streaking can be found on plant leaves. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV. Residents in the North Kona area may report suspected BBTV-infected plants to HDOA's Hilo office at 974-4140.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2004
NR04-07SURVEYS DETECT BANANA BUNCHY TOP VIRUS IN KOHALA AREA
HDOA Obtains Exemption to Use New Pesticide to Combat BBTV in Keaau
HONOLULU - Surveys conducted this week by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) have detected the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) in several backyard banana plants in the Kohala area, north of Hilo on the Big Island. On April 12, the virus was reported to HDOA by a large banana farm in Keaau, Hawaii's main banana-producing region. Since that report, HDOA has been conducting surveys on east and north areas of the island to determine the extent of the infestation. Tests conducted by HDOA this week confirm the presence of BBTV on three residential properties within a six-mile area of Kohala; including the Halaula, Kapaau and Hawi areas. Preliminary assessments lead inspectors to believe that the virus has been present in backyard banana plants for several years. Residents in the Kohala area who have moved banana plants out of the area within the past three years are urged to call the Hilo Office of HDOA at 974-4140 so inspectors may attempt to trace forward locations where possible infected plants may have been transported. In addition, anyone on the Big Island who has received banana plants from the Kohala area within the past three years are asked to call HDOA. To this date, surveys in the Hilo area have not detected the virus. In a related development, HDOA applied for and has obtained an emergency exemption from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow the use of the pesticide Provado« to combat the BBTV infestation in East Hawaii. EPA's emergency exemption applies only to East Hawaii, the state's main banana-producing region. The order also restricts the use of the pesticide to certified applicators, who are registered with HDOA's Pesticides Branch. Provado« is an insecticide used to treat soil, seed or foliage to control a variety of pests; however, the product is not currently labeled for general use on banana plants. Provado« is believed to be a more effective and longer-lasting pesticide than what is currently used to kill the aphids that spread the virus. Due to the significant economic impact that BBTV poses to the banana industry in East Hawaii, HDOA requested that EPA approve the emergency use of the pesticide to help control aphids. HDOA hopes to obtain EPA approval for the use of the pesticide on other islands. BBTV is one of the most serious diseases of banana plants. BBTV-infected plants exhibit severely stunted growth in the plant crown, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Younger leaves are stunted with yellowish leaf edges and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs exhibit dark, parallel "streaks" which may form a continuous line, or appear as intermittent blotches. Streaks may also be viewed in the leaf veins forming a "morse code" pattern which is best viewed by looking from the undersides of the leaves toward the sky. Infected plants produce deformed and stunted fruits. In advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruits. BBTV is spread by the banana aphid and, more commonly, by people moving and planting infected young plants. Big Island property owners who suspect that their banana plants may have the disease should call the Hilo Office of the HDOA at 974-4140.

b) ISLAND OF MAUI PRESS RELSEASES (HDOA)
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
For Immediate Release: January 28, 2003
NR03-04
BANANA BUNCHY TOP DISEASE DISCOVERED ON MAUI
HONOLULU- The serious banana disease, Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) has been discovered on Maui. The disease was discovered in the Pukalani area in December and personnel from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture have been surveying the island to determine the extent of the spread of the disease. Surveys of the Hana, Kihei, Wailea, Waiehu, Lahaina, Kula, Haiku, Wailuku, and the Kahului areas did not detect BBTV and the disease is believed to be confined to the Pukalani area. Until further notice, residents in the Pukalani area are being asked to voluntarily stop the movement of banana plants and plant parts, except fruits to other Maui districts to prevent further spread of BBTV. Until further notice, the movement of banana plants and parts from Maui to other islands is also prohibited. "The department will continue to survey the area and destroy infected banana plants," said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, chairperson for HDOA. "We ask that Maui residents with banana plants take a closer look at their plants and contact the department if they detect any signs of the disease." BBTV infected plants exhibit severely stunted growth in the plant crown, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Younger leaves are stunted with yellowish leaf edges and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs exhibit dark, parallel "streaks" which may form a continuous line, or appear as intermittent blotches. Streaks may also be viewed in the leaf veins forming a "morse code" pattern which is best viewed by looking from the undersides of the leaves toward the sky. Infected plants produce deformed and stunted fruits. In advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruits. BBTV is spread by the banana aphid and, more commonly, by people moving and planting infected young plants. Maui residents who suspect they have banana plants that are infected are asked to call HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch on Maui at 873-3555 or the Honolulu office at 973-9538.

b) ISLAND OF KAUAI PRESS RELSEASES (HDOA)
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR00-08
April 21, 2000
New Outbreak of Banana Bunchy Top Virus On Kauai
Honolulu - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) reports that there appears to be a new outbreak of the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) on the island of Kauai. Agriculture officials found several banana plants with symptoms of the virus earlier this week and lab tests confirmed the outbreak in the Kapahi area, which is about two miles mauka of Kapaa town. The HDOA wants to notify residents on Kauai that they will be surveying the island on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 25 and 26 to determine the extent of the reinfestation. Agriculture officials will be asking residents and property owners for permission to gain access to banana plants to check for the disease. Residents can also assist by examining their own plants for the virus and reporting any symptoms to HDOA. In 1998, BBTV was eliminated from Kauai after a 15-month eradication program that involved the destruction of 25,000 banana plants in the Kilauea town area. Preliminary assessments indicate that the Kapahi area infestation is not related to the one in Kilauea. The HDOA will be surveying the entire island before determining if further control measures are necessary. "We knew it was going to be an ongoing battle to keep BBTV from returning to Kauai," said James J. Nakatani, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture. "We are counting on the continued cooperation of Kauai farmers and residents that helped us in the successful eradication in 1998." HDOA reminds residents that transporting banana plants from Oahu and the Big Island is strictly prohibited and offenders may be fined between $100 and $10,000 per violation. HDOA is also fighting BBTV in the North Kona area on the Big Island. The department has extended its "Project Eradication" in North Kona due to residents who are refusing to let officials on their property to kill banana plants in the quarantine zone. On Oahu, BBTV is too widespread to make eradication efforts feasible. BBTV is one of the most serious viral diseases of banana plants. It is spread by the banana aphid and, more commonly, by people moving and planting infected young plants. Symptoms of BBTV include young leaves that are stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Leaf edges are yellowish and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs may exhibit streaks which are darker in color. As the disease progresses, streaking can be found on plant leaves. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV. If residents on Kauai suspect their plants have the disease, call HDOA's Kauai office at 274-3069 or the HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch on Oahu at (808) 973-9522.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR009
May 3, 2000
Quarantine on Banana Plants Necessary To Fight Banana Bunchy Top on Kauai
Honolulu - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is working on quickly establishing a quarantine program to contain and eradicate a new outbreak of the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) on the island of Kauai. In mid-April banana plants infected with the virus were identified in the Kapahi area, which is about two miles mauka of Kapaa town. HDOA met with banana farmers in the affected area and they have agreed that the eradication process is necessary to preserve the banana industry on the island. HDOA will also be holding community meetings in the coming weeks to discuss the quarantine issue with residents. After meeting with farmers, HDOA is proposing to establish a quarantine area of 27 square miles which encompasses an eight-square-mile Eradication Zone centered around the Kapahi area, including Kapaa Homesteads and Kawaihau. The proposed Eradication Zone is bordered on the north by Kapaa Stream, which runs south of Kealia toward the mountains; and on the south by Olohena Road which runs makai to Kapaa City Beach Park. The mountains and oceans represent the western and eastern borders. It has been determined that all banana plants within this eight-square-mile core area need to be destroyed in order to eradicate the virus from the island. The larger 27-square-mile Quarantine Area will be bordered on the north by the Kealia dirt road as it runs mauka past Kaneha Reservoir, and to the south by the Wailua River as it runs mauka along its North Fork. The ocean will be the eastern border and the mountains, the western border. Following the establishment of a quarantine order by the Board of Agriculture later this month, banana plants will be prohibited from being moved out of the quarantine area. "The faster we commence this eradication process, the better results we will have in eliminating the disease," said James J. Nakatani, Chairperson of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. "We also want to acknowledge the great cooperation we have received from the farmers and residents. It's not easy telling people that we need to destroy their plants, but the community has been very supportive and understanding." The official quarantine order must be approved by the Hawaii Board of Agriculture, which meets once a month. The next meeting of the Board will likely be scheduled for May 25. In the meantime, HDOA will be working with farmers and residents to destroy infected plants in the proposed quarantine zone. Residents and farmers are urged not to move any banana plants from the affected areas. If banana plants are suspected to have the virus, please call HDOA. Infected plants are being destroyed where they stand and are not moved to keep the virus from spreading. HDOA conducted a cursory survey around the island and did not find BBTV in other areas. However, the department will continue to monitor these areas for the virus. In 1998, BBTV was eliminated from Kauai after a 15-month eradication program that involved the destruction of 25,000 banana plants in the Kilauea town area. The Kapahi area infestation does not seem to be related to the earlier one in Kilauea. It is illegal to transport banana plants from Oahu and the Big Island, areas were BBTV is still active. Offenders may be fined between $100 and $10,000 per violation. HDOA is also fighting BBTV in the North Kona area on the Big Island with the ongoing "Project Eradication." On Oahu, BBTV is too widespread to make eradication efforts feasible. BBTV is one of the most serious viral diseases of banana plants. It is spread by the banana aphid and, more commonly, by people moving and planting infected young plants. Symptoms of BBTV include young leaves that are stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Leaf edges are yellowish and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs may exhibit streaks which are darker in color. As the disease progresses, streaking can be found on plant leaves. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV. If residents on Kauai suspect their plants have the disease, call HDOA's Kauai office at 274-3069 or the HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch on Oahu at (808) 973-9522.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR00-10
May 5, 2000
Lab Tests Indicate Banana Virus May Be More Widespread on Kauai
Honolulu - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) reports that new lab results indicate that the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) has been found in two other areas of Kauai besides the Kapahi area. Lab results showing positive for the virus came from banana plants in the Kalihiwai area, north of Kilauea and in the Wailua Homestead area, south of Kapahi. A team of agricultural officials will continue to survey the new areas next week. In the meantime, the HDOA is recommending that farmers and residents destroy banana plants that exhibit BBTV symptoms. However, it is important that plants are not moved from where they stand to avoid further spread of the disease. Symptoms of BBTV include young leaves that are stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Leaf edges are yellowish and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs may exhibit streaks, which are darker in color. As the disease progresses, streaking can be found on plant leaves. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV. If residents on Kauai suspect their plants have the disease, call HDOA's Kauai office at 274-3069 or the HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch on Oahu at (808) 973-9522.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture
NR00-14
June 22, 2000
State Board of Agriculture Approves Quarantine for Banana Plants on Kauai
Honolulu - The state Board of Agriculture today approved an interim quarantine rule that restricts the movement of banana plants and plant parts (except fruits) on the island of Kauai and from Kauai to other islands within the state. The quarantine is being established to prevent the spread of the recently discovered banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) on Kauai. Only the banana fruit may be moved because it does not spread the virus. The quarantine rule takes effect on the date it is published, which will likely be next week. It is valid for no longer than six months or until the Board rescinds the rule. Violation of the rule may result in fines of not less than $100 and not more than $10,000 per violation. "In order to rid Kauai of this disease, it is important for the whole community to not move banana plants anywhere," said James J. Nakatani, Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. "Although a tiny aphid is the vector of this virus, the disease is also spread by humans moving infected plants." The Board approved the rule on the recommendation of the state Department of Agriculture's Plant Industry Division, which has been working with the island's banana growers since the virus was discovered in several areas on Kauai in April and May. The approval of the rule also paves the way for eradication and other mandatory control measures by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA). Symptoms of BBTV include young leaves that are stunted, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Leaf edges are yellowish and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs may exhibit streaks which are darker in color. As the disease progresses, streaking can be found on plant leaves. Infected banana plants produce small, deformed fruits; and in advanced stages, banana plants do not produce any fruit. Banana plants may also carry the virus without showing obvious signs of infection. There are no chemicals that can prevent or cure BBTV. In 1998, BBTV was eliminated from Kilauea town on Kauai after a 15-month eradication program that involved the destruction of 25,000 banana plants. HDOA is also fighting BBTV in the North Kona area on the Big Island before it reaches the state's largest banana growing region on the east side of the island. On Oahu, BBTV is too widespread to make eradication efforts feasible. If residents on Kauai suspect their plants have the disease, call HDOA's Kauai office at 274-3069 or the HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch on Oahu at (808) 973-9522.

4. HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Banana virus too widespread on Big Isle
HILO. Banana virus discovered on the Big Island's eastern coast, the heart of Hawaii's $8.4 million banana industry, has spread too far to be eradicated, state officials said. The banana bunchy-top virus, which deforms fruit and eventually ends new growth, was found on a Keaau banana farm and reported to the state last week. But it may have been too late. Surveys indicate the virus might have infected plants at the Keaau Banana Plantation for a year or more, said Larry Nakahara, head of the Department of Agriculture's Plant Pest Control Branch. "From what we've seen, it's beyond eradication," Nakahara said. "We're in a management mode now." Agriculture personnel brought in from other islands to do an intensive survey of the Keaau area have found banana bunchy-top three miles away from Keaau Banana Plantation, around homes and at Kipuka Farms on the Keaau-Pahoa Road. "It's a very devastating disease," said Scot Nelson, a researcher with the University of Hawaii's Cooperative Extension Service. "It's a major threat to our banana industry." Agriculture officials are worried that someone might try to haul a diseased plant to the landfill or other area, leaving a trail of banana aphids, which carry and spread the virus. Agriculture officials are interested in learning of any banana plants that might have been moved out of the Keaau area to help them track the disease's possible spread. "Vigilance is going to help prevent the spread to the neighbor's place," Nelson said. The aphids can be controlled by commercially available insecticide soaps, but banana plants must be thoroughly soaked to reach under leaf sheaths where aphid colonies are usually found. Early symptoms of banana bunchy-top include streaking on the veins of leaves and on the leaf stem. The virus causes new leaves on mature plants to become narrower and also causes the leaves to become "bunched" at the top. Severely infected plants usually will not produce fruit, but while any bananas produced will likely be deformed, they are safe to eat. Banana bunchy-top virus has also been found on Oahu, on Kauai from Hanalei to Lawai, and on Maui in Pukalani and Makawao. Banana bunchy-top has also spread too far to be eradicated on Oahu, where it was first detected in 1989, and on Kauai, where it first showed up in 1997. The virus was found in Pukalani, Maui, in January 2003. Workers at the infected plantations in Puna are carrying out an intense spraying program for the aphids. That, combined with plantings of disease-free plants and "constant surveillance," is what is being done on Oahu, officials said. The virus also turned up in 1995 in Kona, killing 175,000 banana trees in a 10-square-mile area around Kailua. Infestations have been observed there as recently as two months ago.

5. HONOLULU ADVERTISER
Honolulu Advertiser
Banana virus strikes E. Hawai'i
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i - Banana bunchy top virus was reported this week on a large banana farm in Kea'au, posing a major new threat to the state's $8.4 million banana industry. The find on a 200-acre Kea'au Banana Plantation marks the first time the virus has been detected in East Hawai'i, the state's primary banana growing region. The virus was found on 13 of 25 fields on the plantation, and experts suspect the virus may have spread through the crops for a year before it was discovered, said Nilton Matayoshi, chief of the chemical/mechanical control section of the plant pest control branch of the state Department of Agriculture. Richard Ha, president and owner of Mauna Kea Banana Company and Kea'au Banana Plantation, has a total of about 600 acres of bananas in Kea'au and Pepe'ekeo, making him the largest grower in the state. He has about 70 employees, and most of his fruit is marketed in Hawai'i. Surveys of Ha's fields found the disease on both apple banana and the commercially popular Cavendish variety of bananas that consumers are more accustomed to seeing in supermarkets. Cavendish is more vulnerable to the virus than apple banana, and the virus has virtually eliminated farming of Cavendish on O'ahu, Matayoshi said. The disease has also been found on Kaua'i from Hanalei to Lawa'i, and on Maui in Pukalani and Makawao. Ha said about 35 acres of his land at the Kea'au plantation are planted with the Williams Cavendish variety, and those plants may have to be destroyed. Apple banana was planted on another 50 acres, and Ha said he hopes to salvage most of that crop. He said he has been working with experts at the University of Hawai'i and the Department of Agriculture to determine how he should proceed. "I want to do the right thing, because it is pretty technical how you handle this," he said. "I am optimistic that we can take care of this problem." Ha said he has no idea yet how much the lost crops or controlling the virus outbreak could cost him. The state Department of Agriculture attempted to block the spread of the virus on the Big Island by launching an extensive eradication project in 1999 in North Kona after the virus was discovered there. Agriculture officials established a 10-mile eradication zone and destroyed more than 175,000 banana plants over two years as part of the effort, but the virus was never completely wiped out. In September 2002 a pocket of five infected banana plants was found in the eradication area, and the department is continuing the surveillance and eradication effort. Sandra Lee Kunimoto, chairwoman of the Hawai'i Board of Agriculture, said the disease could severely impact the industry if it is found to be widespread in Kea'au. Agricultural inspectors will be temporarily assigned to the Big Island from Maui, Kaua'i and O'ahu to canvass Kea'au neighborhoods to determine if the virus has spread off the plantation, Matayoshi said. Teams will canvass Kea'au farms and neighborhoods and will ask residents to for permission to survey all banana plants and test any suspect plants. The state workers will have department-issued badges for identification. "We ask the cooperation of area banana farmers, as well as residents who have backyard banana plants, in allowing (state agriculture) personnel to check their plants for the disease so we can determine the extent of the problem," Kunimoto said. Plants infected by the banana bunchy top virus suffer from severely stunted growth in the plant crown, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Younger leaves are stunted with yellowish leaf edges and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs have dark, parallel streaks that may form a continuous line or appear as intermittent blotches. Infected plants produce deformed and stunted fruit, and in advanced stages of the disease the plants do not produce any fruit. The virus is spread by the banana aphid or by people moving and planting infected young plants, but Matayoshi and Ha said they do not know how the virus reached Kea'au. Big Island property owners who suspect that their banana plants may have the disease should call the Hilo office of the Department of Agriculture at (808) 974-4140. Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.

Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, May 3, 2004
Use of special pesticide OK'd
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i - State agricultural officials have won emergency federal approval to use a special pesticide they hope will kill off the aphids that are spreading the banana bunchy top virus in East Hawai'i. Nilton Matayoshi, chief for the chemical/mechanical control section in the Department of Agriculture's Plant Pest Control Branch, said the pesticide, sold under the trade name Provado, should reduce the threat the virus poses to the state's $8.4 million banana industry. Other pesticides must be sprayed directly on the aphids to kill them, but Provado is sprayed on the plant and absorbed into it, killing the aphids when they eat the plant, Matayoshi said. "That's something that we just didn't have all these years," he said. "We think the growers have a really good chance of stopping the spread of this vector." The virus was first discovered in the prime banana growing region of East Hawai'i in early April, and agricultural inspectors confirmed cases of the virus on the 200-acre Kea'au Banana Plantation and in four other smaller patches of banana plants in the Kea'au area. Suspicious-looking plants from Kurtistown and Kaiwiki are being tested for the disease, although those cases have not been confirmed. Agriculture officials announced on Friday that they have confirmed bunchy top infections in wild roadside banana patches in Hala'ula, Kapa'au and Hawi in North Kohala, and asked that anyone who has moved banana plants out of the Kohala area in the past three years call the department so that agriculture officials can trace the plants. The virus essentially wiped out farming of the popular Williams banana variety on O'ahu and presents a major threat to the Big Island crop. Infected plants suffer severely stunted growth in the plant crown, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Younger leaves are stunted with yellowish edges and may curl upward. Lower leaf stems and midribs have dark, parallel streaks that may form a continuous line or appear as intermittent blotches. The virus is spread by the banana aphid or by people moving and planting infected young plants. Infected plants produce deformed and stunted fruit, and in advanced stages of the disease the plants do not produce any fruit. The virus is not harmful to humans who eat the fruit. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted the Agriculture Department an emergency exemption from restrictions on the use of Provado to try to control the spread of the aphids. Although the insecticide is used against a variety of pests, it is not currently labeled for general use on banana plants, according to state agriculture officials. The exemption allows the use of the pesticide on banana plants only in East Hawai'i by certified applicators. Matayoshi said fruit from plants treated with the chemical will be safe to eat. Big Island property owners who suspect that their banana plants may have the disease should call the Hilo office of the Department of Agriculture at (808) 974-4140. Reach Kevin Dayton at (808) 935-3916 or kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com

Posted on: Monday, June 7, 2004 (Honolulu Advertiser article about Maui)
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jun/07/ln/ln16a.html
Bunchy top virus threatens a piece of Hawaiian culture
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui Bureau
KAHULUI, Maui - Many people know that Hawai'i's banana industry is under attack by the banana bunchy top virus. Few know that a part of Native Hawaiian culture is also caught up in the life-and-death struggle. "Hawaiians cultivated bananas for hundreds and hundreds of years. If we lose them, we all lose," declared Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond, executive director of the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens in Kahului. The Marquesans brought several varieties of bananas with them when they originally populated Hawai'i. Through the centuries, the prolific farmers in Hawai'i tended to the bananas, not only for life-giving sustenance and other uses but as a kind of hobby, developing at least 50 or so known varieties. Today, these "Polynesian heirloom" bananas, as some call them, are rapidly disappearing, and experts warn the virus could strike a crippling or even fatal blow. That would be a shame, says Angela Kay Kepler, a Maui biological consultant who is writing a book about Hawai'i's native bananas with her husband, Frank Rust, and University of Hawai'i horticulture professor Chian Leng Chia. "They are the equivalent of Hawai'i's precious feather capes. They are part of the culture just like many of the other things you see in the museums," Kepler said. State agriculture officials have been battling banana bunchy top virus for 15 years, warning of the serious consequences for banana growers across the state. The virus has caused the demise of some farms and forced many others to replace their existing banana variety with less-susceptible ones. The virus was first observed here in 1989 and is widely established on O'ahu. It has since spread across the island chain - discovered on the Big Island in 1995 and on Kaua'i in 1997. It was found for the first time on Maui at the beginning of last year. Infected plants typically suffer severely stunted growth in the plant crown, resulting in a bunchy appearance. Younger leaves are stunted with yellowish edges. Infected plants produce small, deformed fruit and, in advanced stages of the disease, there's no fruit at all. The bad guy is the banana aphid, the disease's sole vector. Although the aphids can be spread by winds, authorities say people do more to aid and abet the disease's proliferation by inadvertently moving infected plants from one area to another. The virus is very difficult to detect in its first year and, because of that, it's capable of spreading quickly. Eradication is extraordinarily difficult, authorities say, and the likelihood of finding a cure is slim. Destroying the infected plants is the only known way to battle the disease. Meanwhile, the number of native Hawaiian varieties continues to dwindle, in part because of the bunchy top virus. Collections in Waim_nalo and on Kaua'i have been destroyed in efforts to eradicate the disease. From the 50 or so original varieties, only 27 are known to exist. "We're hoping there are still a few varieties in the mountains of O'ahu and Kaua'i," Kepler said. Kepler and Rust began writing a book on tropical fruits and nuts in Hawai'i a couple of years ago and then decided to focus on the native bananas after professor Chia suggested the topic had become urgent in light of the burgeoning disease. The more the couple began to research the bananas, the more fascinated they became. In ancient Hawai'i, bananas were taboo to women except certain varieties. According to Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel H. Elbert, bananas were not mentioned in songs because of some negative connotations, including the fact that it was considered bad luck to dream of bananas, to meet a man carrying bananas or to take them in fishing canoes. Schattenburg-Raymond said the Hawaiians were fascinated with the banana mutants and worked arduously to produce the oddities in greater numbers. Among them is the only variegated, or striped, banana cultivar known to grow anywhere. Examples are found in the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens in Kahului. With 19 known native varieties still alive on Maui, the Valley Isle is the capital of native bananas, so to speak, and research for Kepler and Rust has sent them to such places as the remote jungle of N_hiku and the urban back yards of Kahului. Discoveries include one variety, previously thought to be extinct, in the back yard of a home in Upper Kula, at the 3,400-foot level, as well as a group of 65 rare mai'a maoli kaualau in a West Maui valley. In addition, they found 70 plants of the huamoa variety on a Wailuku farm being grown for the Samoan niche market. With only a small bunchy top virus infestation in Pukalani and Makawao, Maui is the least-impacted of the major islands. Kepler and Schattenburg-Raymond would like to keep it that way. They are urging the state to beef up its team of field inspectors - and its public-education efforts - to make sure the disease is contained. "All of our bananas are threatened until they eradicate this," Schattenburg-Raymond said.
Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.

6. KPUA
KPUA.NET
Posted: Saturday, May 1st, 2004 9:24 AM HST
Banana bunchy top virus detected in Kohala
By Associated Press
(Honolulu-AP) -- State agriculture officials say that a devastating banana virus has been detected in the Kohala area on the Big Island.
The discovery of the banana bunchy top virus in three residential areas comes a little more than two weeks after it was reported on a Keeau farm. The state Department of Agriculture says surveys found the banana bunchy top virus in several backyard banana plants north of Hilo, in the Halaula, Kapaau and Hawi areas in Kohala. State inspectors believe the virus has been present in those backyard plants for several years. The department began the surveys on the east and north areas of the Big Island after the virus was reported at the Keaau Banana Plantation on April 12th. Inspectors have not found in the virus in Hilo yet. (Copyright 2004 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

7. PACIFIC BEAT
Pacific Beat
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/s1091695.htm
HAWAII: Virus jeopardises multi-million dollar banana industry
21/04/2004
Banana farmers in East Hawaii are prepared to sacrifice parts of their plantation, as authorities prepare to wipe out the 'bunchy top' virus which threatens to destroy an 8.4 million dollar industry. The virus has hit other parts of Hawaii before, but never in the East, the state's main banana growing area.
Presenter/Interviewer: Huey Fern Tay
Speakers: Richard Ha, Owner, Kea'au Banana Plantation; Nilton Matayoshi, Chief, Plant pest control, Department of Agriculture
HA: "We're planning to take out the 35 acres that is affected. We're going to take all of those out and so that won't leave very many bananas that are affected by the virus."
TAY: That's Richard Ha, the largest grower of bananas in the state of Hawaii. A small part of his plantation on the East of Hawaii has been hit with what is known as the bunchy top virus, one of the most serious diseases that can affect bananas. It severely stunts the plants and makes it unable to bear fruits.
The virus has struck other parts of Hawaii before, with the last one occurring just a few years ago on the Big Island. Back then some 175 000 banana plants were destroyed in a 10-mile eradication zone, in an attempt to eliminate the virus. But now that the virus has hit the main banana production region of East Hawaii, authorities have even more reason to fear the outbreak might devastate the multi-million dollar industry. Nilton Matayoshi from the Department of Agriculture.
MATAYOSHI: "The industry total itself is worth $8.4 million. And so that area being the main banana production area in the State bunchy top will seriously affect the industry, possibly more than 50 to 70% of production is on that side."
"Since that discovery in 1995 to today nine years later we had an ongoing survey to find out if the eradication project was successful. I believe the project ended in about 2001. However upon going back to the area we have found about eight instances where the virus has returned. So we were not successful in eradicating the virus."
TAY: Nilton Matayoshi from the Department of Agriculture. However even though the eradication method isn't always effective there are plans to go ahead with it for the current situation in East Hawaii. Banana plantation owner Richard Ha summed it up this way:
HA: "We have no choice. If we expect to control it we must take them out. If we don't take them out, it will take the whole plantation with it." 21/04/2004

. KITV NEWS 4
KITV NEWS 4
Virus Strikes Heart Of Hawaii's Banana Region
Banana Bunchy Top Spread To All Islands
POSTED: 5:09 pm HST April 16, 2004
UPDATED: 6:17 pm HST April 16, 2004
HONOLULU -- Hawaii's multi-million-dollar banana industry has suffered what could be a very serious blow. State agriculture officials have confirmed the devastating virus known as Banana Bunchy Top Virus has been discovered in the state's most productive area on the Big Island. It was the news they had dreaded. The virus was found at the Keaau Banana Plantation, which covers 200 acres. It's one of the state's largest banana farms. This the first time the disease has been reported on the island's east side, the state's main banana-producing region. The disease stunts banana leaves, producing deformed fruit. It had already spread to all the islands. Six years ago, it surfaced in North Kona. While farmers fought to save their crops, state agriculture agents destroyed more than 175,000 banana plants. The fear was that the virus would spread to the Big Island's east side. Now it has. "It can move by aphids, either flying by the wind or being carried. An alpha vector landing, being carried to somewhere else, or it can be people just moving infected plants that they don't realize are infected. They move it to an uninfected area and then you get the disease," said Larry Nakahara of the state's Plant Pest Control. State agricultural officials are now checking the 200-acre Keaau Banana Plantation and surrounding area to see how widespread the infection is. The virus discovery was not a big surprise to Nakahara. There is no sure-fire prevention method. Containment, slowing the spread, is the only option until one is found, according to Nakahara. Banana production is worth about $8.5 million a year to Hawaii.

9. ENVIRONMENT HAWAII
Environment Hawaii
Volume 11 Number 4 (October 2000)
http://www.environment-hawaii.org/1000wat.htm
And the Winner Isà Conservation Loses in Battle Over Invasive Species Funds
What invasive species poses the greatest threat to Hawai`i? Is it the brown tree snake? Miconia? Caribbean tree frogs? Axis deer?
Any or all of them might be regarded as a serious contender for this dubious honor, but when it comes to putting its money where its mouth is, Hawai`i gives top billing to the banana bunchy top virus. According to a recent report published by the U.S. General Accounting Office (Invasive Species: Federal and Selected State Funding to Address Harmful, Nonnative Species, RCED-00-219, August 2000), Hawai`i spent $350,000 in fiscal year 1999 on efforts to control BBTV, a highly contagious disease that destroys banana plants. The disease has infested parts of Kona, on the Big Island, and Kaua`i. Tied for second and third place on the list were the fire tree and ivy gourd. The brown tree snake came in fourth, with expenditures of $78,700 to prevent introduction of this pest, while $50,000 was spent on miconia, a plant that, if left unchecked, can devastate whole mountainsides, as it has in Tahiti. Altogether, the GAO looked at expenditures of seven states on efforts to control or prevent the spread of invasive species: California, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, and New York, in addition to Hawai`i. Total expenditures in Hawai`i ranked third ($7.6 million in fiscal 2000), well behind Florida ($127.6 million) and California ($87.2 million). As the Hawai`i expenditures suggest, priority on spending in most of these states went to the control of species that pose a threat to commercial crops or ranches. For example, California's top priority for control in 1999 was the medfly; $9.434 million was spent on this pest. Florida gave the lion's share of its invasive species funds ($29,081,992) to control of citrus canker. Federal spending on invasive species came to nearly $514 million in fiscal year 1999, while for FY 2000, obligations were even higher: $631.5 million. The GAO report offers no breakdown on the nature of the threat of the invasive species on which federal dollars were spent - that is, whether the species targeted threaten natural resources, commercial activities, or recreational resources (such as freshwater fish). Nine out of 10 of the federal dollars were spent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is charged with addressing quarantine issues regardless of whether the target species has an impact on agriculture. Of the federal funds spent in 1999, $154.5 million went to control terrestrial arthropods (including fruit flies, which alone received $36.2 million in USDA funds, and the Asian long-horned beetle). Plants (almost all of them weeds on the mainland) received expenditures of $70.7 million. Animal and plant diseases were targeted with $33.1 million, while fish and aquatic invertebrates received expenditures of $20.4 million. Reptiles and amphibians accounted for $4.8 million. The Department of the Interior and the Smithsonian Institution focused the bulk of their invasive-species budget on the brown tree snake ($1.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively). The report underscores an important aspect of invasive species funding that is often overlooked when conservationists discuss the subject - and that is the fact that no matter how much of a threat invasive species may pose to native ecosystems or habitat for endangered species, they command the most attention, and money, when they threaten commercial species. Not that banana bunchy-top virus isn't important to control. It surely is. But is it not just as urgent to keep our watersheds from being lost to miconia, to halt the spread of noisy Caribbean frogs that are already driving tourists out in droves from some areas, or to keep motorists on Maui from being killed in collisions with the proliferating numbers of Axis deer?

10. THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Washington Times
http://www.washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040501-041322-3062r.htm
Virus battled near Hawaii banana crops
Honolulu, May. 1 (UPI) -- A nasty virus that hits banana plants has been discovered in an area of Hawaii uncomfortably close to some major commercial plantations. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture said late Friday the Banana Bunchy Top Virus was found in several backyard plants in the Hilo area of the Big Island not far from Keaau, the island's main banana-producing area. The virus is so named because it leads to stunted growth that gives bananas a bunchier than normal look and eventually takes away a plant's ability to produce fruit at all. Thus far, the virus appears to be limited to residential plants and not commercial farms. The agriculture department, however, recently obtained an EPA waiver for the long-lasting pesticide Provado as a means of controlling the aphids that spread the disease.

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