title: Molecular characterization of banana bunchy top virus isolate from Sri Lanka and its genetic relationship with other isolates.
abstract: Bunchy top disease of banana caused by Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV, genus Babuvirus family Nanoviridae) is one of the most important constraints in production of banana in the different parts of the world. Six genomic DNA components of BBTV isolate from Kandy, Sri Lanka (BBTV-K) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers using total DNA extracted from banana tissues showing typical symptoms of bunchy top disease. The amplicons were of expected size of 1.0-1.1 kb, which were cloned and sequenced. Analysis of sequence data revealed the presence of six DNA components; DNA-R, DNA-U3, DNA-S, DNA-N, DNA-M and DNA-C for Sri Lanka isolate. Comparisons of sequence data of DNA components followed by the phylogenetic analysis, grouped Sri Lanka-(Kandy) isolate in the Pacific Indian Oceans (PIO) group. Sri Lanka-(Kandy) isolate of BBTV is classified a new member of PIO group based on analysis of six components of the virus.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plant Pathology, Department of Agriculture, Horticulture Crops Research and Development Institute, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya, 20400 Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: W A R T
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wickramaarachchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, K. R. C. College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka India.
authors.forename: K S
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4894-0280
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shankarappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, 560 065 India.
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Rangaswamy
authors.affiliation: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB UK.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Maruthi
authors.affiliation: Division of Plant Pathology, Department of Agriculture, Horticulture Crops Research and Development Institute, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya, 20400 Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: R G A S
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Rajapakse
authors.affiliation: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB UK.
authors.forename: Saptarshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
keywords: BBTV; Banana; Phylogenetic tree; Polymerase chain reaction; Sequence; Sri Lanka