Abaca bunchy top virus

Abaca bunchy top virus is a pathogenic plant virus of the family Nanoviridae. ABTV has been isolated from both abacá and banana. ABTV has many similarities to Banana bunchy top virus but is both genetically and serologically distinct in that it lacks two open reading frames found in BBTV's genome. ATBV's genome contains six circular components, each of which are 1,000-1,500 base pairs in length.

Spread

The virus, first detected in 1915 at Silang, Cavite, Philippines, has since spread to various provinces in the country, and damaged more than of abacá plantations in 2002 alone.

Resistance

In 2009, University of the Philippines Los Baños researchers funded by the Department of Agriculture developed an abacá variety that is resistant to the ABTV. The university is working further to make it resistant to mosaic and abacá bract mosaic viruses.