REACTION OF BANANA GERMPLASM TO INOCULATION WITH Xanthomonas campestris pv musacearum

Pot trial to evaluate the reaction of Uganda s local banana germplasm to artificial inoculation with Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm) was established in 2004 and 2005 in Mukono district, Uganda. X. campestris pv musacearum causes infection causes premature fruit ripening and leaf wilting, killing every affected plant hence leading to total yield loss. The disease is managed through cultural practices but it was thought that use of resistant varieties would provide a better management option. Potted plants in a farmer s field were therefore inoculated with a bacterial suspension containing 1x10^8 bacterial cells/mL of Xcm. 1mL of bacterial suspension was injected into the petiole of the youngest open leaf using a hypodermic needle. Twenty five plants of each of the 42 banana genotypes were involved in the study. Wilt disease developed in the three months old banana plantlets of all local germplasm tested except for Musa balbsiana.