Análisis de prevalencia y variabilidad genética del virus del estriado del banano (BSV) en Ecuador

Abstract

Banana production in Ecuador confronts significant phytosanitary challenges, with Banana streak virus (BSV), genus Badnavirus, representing a latent threat. This project assessed the incidence and genetic diversity of the pathogen across Guayas and Los Ríos provinces to strengthen local diagnostic capabilities. Throughout the study, foliar and reproductive tissues were collected via targeted sampling, prioritizing plants exhibiting characteristic symptomatology. Nucleic acid extraction protocols were optimized, and endpoint PCR assays targeting capsid and polyprotein regions were performed, followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Findings confirmed viral presence in Guayas localities such as Tenguel and Salitre, specifically identifying Banana streak OL virus (BSOLV) through alignments, demonstrating high homology with reference sequences. Furthermore, viral amplification was validated in fruit peel tissue, corroborating the systemic nature of the virus. It is concluded that BSOLV is prevalent in Ecuador, and the standardized molecular tool ensures robust detection, which is critical for crop health monitoring and the prevention of viral dissemination. Keywords: Badnavirus, Molecular diagnosis, Musa spp., PCR, Phylogeny.