The acyclic nucleoside phosphonate analogues, adefovir, tenofovir and PMEDAP, efficiently eliminate banana streak virus from banana (Musa spp.)

Abstract

We report that the anti-retroviral and anti-hepadnavirus molecules, adefovir, tenofovir and 9-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl)-2,6-diaminopurine (PMEDAP), efficiently eradicate the episomal form of Banana streak virus (BSV) from banana plants. Up to 90% of plants regenerated from BSV-infected highly proliferating meristems were virus free following a 6-month treatment period with 10 g/ml (a non-phytotoxic concentration) of either compounds.

Significant plant virus diseases in India and a glimpse of modern disease management technology

“…But there is still need for several more such laboratories and additional centres for human resource development in the country. Ecofriendly measures such as marker-aided selection of disease resistance as is being developed for transgenic pigeonpeas resistant to pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus at ICRISAT, Hyderabad, pathogen-derived resistance, antiviral agents (Helliot et al 2003), and biocontrol of insect vectors should be tried vigorously at much larger scales for long-term disease management.…”

“…Because badnaviruses replicate via reverse transcription, the use of chemotherapeutic agents that inhibit the reverse transcriptase offers a novel approach for control. Antiviral agents have been used successfully to eliminate BSV from banana (Helliot et al 2003).…”

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates: An unfinished story

“…Eight years ago we reported that the ANPs, adefovir, tenofovir and PMEDAP were efficient in the elimination of banana streak virus, a double-stranded (ds)DNA virus, from banana (Musa spp.) 59 . This observation has not been further exploited, however.…”

Banana: cultivars, biotechnological approaches and genetic transformation

“…Further research is anticipated to demonstrate whether these transgenic plants can express the functional antimicrobial peptides at levels high enough to control fungal leaf or root diseases in the field. It was shown that one AMP gene is also expressed in the fruit, thereby providing the Helliot et al (2003) Human lysozyme gene Agrobacterium Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum Pei et al (2005) opportunity to enhance the resistance against preharvest and postharvest diseases such as cigar-end rot and crown rot (Sa´gi et al, 1998). Magainin is one of the earliest reported antimicrobial peptides isolated from skin secretions of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis.…”