title: A PCR-based method, with internal control, for the detection of Banana bunchy top virus in banana.
abstract: Banana bunchy top disease is a major constraint to banana production in most regions where this crop is grown. The disease is caused by Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), a multicomponent, single-stranded DNA virus of the family Nanoviridae. We have designed primers to a conserved region of the master replication-associated protein that are useful for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated detection of BBTV. In addition, primers to banana genomic sequence are used as an internal control, overcoming the uncertainty (owing to false-negatives) inherent in PCR diagnostics. Together these primer sets are a valuable tool in the effort to control BBTV, particularly in screening micropropagated banana plantlets for the absence of virus before release to farmers.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.forename: Javaria
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qazi
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.forename: Imtiaz A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Saboohi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.forename: Rob W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Briddon
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D028521:Musa / Q000821:virology*; D025682:Nanovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral