SOME NOTES ON BANANA XANTHOMONAS WILT (BXW)

Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW), or banana bacterial wilt (BBW) or enset wilt is a bacterial
disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum.[1] After being originally identified on a
close relative of banana, Ensete ventricosum, in Ethiopia in the 1960s,[2] BXW emanated in Uganda in
2001 affecting all types of banana cultivars. Since then BXW has been diagnosed in Central and East
Africa including banana growing regions of: Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and Uganda.[3]
Of the numerous diseases infecting bananas, BXW alongside banana bunchy top virus has been the
most devastating in recent years. Global concern arose over the livelihoods of African banana farmers
and the millions relying on bananas as a staple food when the disease was at its worst between the
years 2001 and 2005. It was estimated that in Central Uganda from 2001 and 2004, there was a 30-
52 % decrease in banana yield due to BXW infection.[4] Although extensive management of the disease
outbreaks has helped reduce the impact of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt even today BXW continues to a
pose a real problem to the banana farmer of Central and East Africa.