Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 3: 91 - 93. Published March 2008.
Survival of Xanthomonas vasicola pv musacearum on metallic tools
Mwangi Maina*^ AND Sarah MUTHONI.
*International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kampala, Uganda.
*Current address: FACT Biosciences, Nairobi, Kenya
^Corresponding author email: m.mwangi@fact.elewa.org
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Banana Xanthomonas wilt is transmitted through tools, e.g. machetes and hoes that get contaminated when bacteria in infected plants adhere onto tools. After work farmers, laborers and merchants store or transport tools without disinfecting, thus spreading disease when the contaminated tools are used in other farms. This study was carried out to evaluate survival of Xanthomonas cells on metallic knives from where they can be transmitted to healthy plants.
Methodology and results: Bacterial cells were smeared onto blades and survival monitored over 72 hours by checking growth of colonies on bacterial culture media. Xanthomonas remained viable and infective for the entire 72h period.
Application of findings: The results prove that bacteria remain viable for extended periods of time and provide evidence to support the recommendation given to farmers to disinfect their tools regularly when working to avoid disease transmission.
Key words: banana, Xanthomonas wilt, metallic tools, pathogen survival
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