Prevalence and diversity of Banana streak viruses in the Dominican Republic

An extensive survey was carried out in the Dominican Republic in order to monitor the prevalence of the three most widespread BSV species: Banana streak OL virus (BSOLV), Banana streak GF virus (BGFV) and Banana streak IM virus (BSIMV), in Macho x Hembra (MxH) and FHIA-21 plantains and in Cavendish dessert banana throughout all banana-producing areas. This survey led to the first detection of BSVs in the Dominican Republic. BSGFV was the most prevalent of the three targeted BSV species in both FHIA-21 and MxH varieties. Prevalence of BSGFV and BSOLV were substantially higher in FHIA-21 than in MxH. Molecular analysis of the eBSV pattern of sampled FHIA-21 and MxH plants showed that both varieties harbor infectious alleles OL1 (eBSOLV) and GF7 (eBSGFV) and are devoid of eBSIMV. Very low prevalence was recorded for both BSOLV and BSGFV in Cavendish banana, which is devoid of infectious eBSVs. BSIMV was not detected at all. Our results point to a marginal role of insect-borne transmission in the epidemiology of BSVs in the Dominican Republic.