Differential Biochemical Response among Banana (Musa spp.) Genotypes against Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is one of the major viruses causing high yield loss in bananas. The study was carried out to gain a better understanding of the host and virus interaction and to explore the adaptive mechanism and biochemical responses in banana cultivars viz., Rasthali and Grand Naine against the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). In the leaf samples of BBTV infected Rasthali and Grand Naine, estimated the total chlorophyll, carbohydrates, phenols and enzyme activities such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. The virus infected samples of both cultivars showed a significant increase in the defense enzymes over the healthy sample. Higher total phenols in healthy Rasthali plants which further significantly increased after BBTV infection was observed in comparison to Grand Naine. In contrast to Grand Naine, Rasthali showed higher polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity contributing to increased polyphenol content. Higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in virus infected Rasthali was observed in comparison to Grand Naine. The increased amount of total phenols, polyphenols and SOD activity in Rasthali might have contributed to less susceptibility to bunchy top virus. However, total protein and chlorophyll content were reduced after BBTV infection in both the banana cultivars.