• Disease is noticed in many cultivable varieties like Nendran, Palyankodan, Karpooravally, Rasthali etc
• Chlorotic or yellowish green bands and patches or mottling seen over the entire area of young leaves (Plate35)
• Parallel chlorotic streaks develop on the younger leaves giving a striped appearance (Plate36)
• Subsequently produced leaves become small and distorted
• Margins become irregularly wavy, often with mosaic mottling and blotches of necrotic tissues (Plate37)
• In severe cases, rotted areas are found through out the leaf sheath and pseudostem.
• Diseased plants do not reach maturity. Occasionally, they produce a bunch of fruit which never matures and is unfit for consumption .
• Affected plants become stunted
• Youngest leaf shows chlorosis and rots resulting in heart rot .

Select five rows at random from 10 cent plot. Observe plants showing typical virus symptoms

Mere presence

• The most important measure is to use only disease free planting material for propagation.
• The diseases should be detected early in the field and immediately eradicate infected plants including suckers.
• Affected plants can be destroyed by spraying kerosene or by injecting herbicides like 2-4 D
• Do not take suckers from infected fields
• Use tissue culture plants and certified disease free suckers for planting.
• Avoid growing leguminous and cucurbitaceous vegetables as inter crops.
• Before planting spread lemon grass in the pit,(if available)
• Apply cartap hydrochloride 4 G @ 25 g per plant 20 days after planting. A second and third dose of the chemical are to be applied in the leaf axil @ 12.5.g each at 65 days and 165 days after planting.
• Spray Verticillium lecanii to control aphid vectors @ 20 g or 5 ml /l at 25,65 and 165 days after planting . Where ever insecticides are applied 10 day gap should be given for biocontrol application.
• Apply neemcake @ 1 kg in two split doses 25 -30 days after planting and the second at 60-65 days after planting.
• Predators of banana aphids include lady bird beetles (Symnus nubilus, Pseudaspidimerus circumflexa , Micraspes crocea, Menochilus sexmaculatus) Syrphids (Paragus serratus, Ascarina spp.) and a Hemerobid. Protect these natural enemies.
• Varieties such as Karpooravalli,kanchikela, Njalipoovn and koombillakannan are tolerant against bunchy top infection.