Task+5

**__ Banana Bunchy Top Virus __**



How can we prevent the spread of the BBT Virus? The BBTV virus is the biggest cause of economical problems in the Pacific Island. Infected plants, prevent growing fruits and those that have been infected whilst bearing fruit are unmarketable. The plants infected also pose bunched stiff yellow leaves and stunted growth.

To prevent the spread of the virus -
 * DO NOT remove infested plants from area
 * using uninfected planting materials are mandatory for the growth and new plantation of the crops.
 * Destroy all infected crops using banacide (Takes 6 weeks for banacide to destroy plant) to prevent the aphids from destroying the disease free seedlings.
 * Plant in previous non infected areas.
 * Using insectacide to manage and prevent the aphids from destroying the plants.

Wang, K., BBTV and Nematode Management on Bananas., (2011).

How many Plants are in Plantation E (JACT Co's closest plantation)?
 * Plantation E currently has 123,168 plants.

How long will it take for Plantation E to be completely infested?
 * As the Aphids cycle is 20 days, it will take roughly 160 days for Plantation E to be completely infested.

How long will it take for the entire Island to be completely infested?
 * There are 274,562 plants on The Island. BBT Virus spreads every 20 days along with the aphid life cycle. We have calculated that it will be on the ninth cycle from the point of infection that the virus will have spread throughout The Island's banana population, therefore taking 160 days.

How much money will be lost with the initial crop infestation?
 * $10914.12

What are our recommendations for The Island now that the banana crops have been destroyed?
 * We have decided that the time and effort it would take to rebuild the area, and to find new uninfected soil, would be better utilized by focusing on other avenues of trade. Our suggestions are honey, fruits and natural cosmetics. The introduction of pesticides to The Island would be needed in order to control future outbreaks of BBTV. This concerns JACT Co, as we are trying to keep The Island as chemically-free as possible.

__**References: **__

- Individual and Team Background Knowledge

- Class discussions and ideas in Tutorials

- Team discussions in own time

- Family and friends advice and knowledge

- Internet resources such as ; Wikipedia, Google Images, Websites

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">- Information Via 'The Island Wiki'

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">- Lectures

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">- Information and advice via Nicky Carr