PAPAYA RINGSPOT

WHAT IS PAPAYA RINGSPOT DISEASE?

 Papaya ringspot disease is caused by Papaya ringspot virus – type P (PRSV-P)
 Papaya ringspot disease causes distinctive symptoms on papaya (pawpaw or papaw)
(Carica papaya) plants.

WHAT CAUSES SPOTS ON PAPAYA?.

Black spot of papaya is caused by the fungus Asperisporium caricae, previously referred
to as Cercospora caricae. This disease is most severe during rainy periods.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Symptoms consist of circular leaf spots (0.5 inch in diameter) that range in color from
light brown to black. With time, these spots develop concentric rings, much like a target pattern.
Small, spherical fruiting structures may also be observed within the leaf spots.

WHAT IS THE INFECTIOUS AGENT OF RINGSPOT?

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV), a member of the aphid-transmitted genus Potyvirus, the
cause of a destructive disease and a major limiting factor for papaya and cucurbit cultivation
worldwide (Purcifull et al, 1984). PRSV is grouped into papaya-infecting type P (PRSV-P) and
non-papaya infecting type.

WHAT IS THE HOST OF PAPAYA RINGSPOT VIRUS?

Hosts: PRSV has a limited number of hosts belonging to the families Caricaceae,
Chenopodiaceae and Cucurbitaceae. Propagation hosts are: Carica papaya, Cucurbita pepo and
Cucumis metuliferus cv. accession 2459. Local lesion assay hosts are: Chenopodium quinoa and
Chenopodium amaranticolor.

WHAT FUNGICIDE TO USE FOR PAPAYA BLACK SPOT?

Treating Papaya Black Spot

Bum infected fosage or fruit, if possible, to help prevent the spread of the disease:
Protectant fungicides that contain copper, mancozeb, or chlorothalonil can also be used to
manage papaya black spot.

HOW CAN WE PROTECT PAPAYA FROM DISEASES?

 Always sanitize tools to prevent the spread of diseases. Before papaya flowers appear or
just as they appear, preventative fungicides may help control papaya anthracnose.
 Use a fungicide containing Copper hydroxide, Mancozeb, Azoxystrobin or Bacillus
Spray the orchard with the fungicide every two weeks.

Leaf symptoms on leaves of papaya affected with

Papaya ringspot virus - type P. Note the leaves
with light yellow and green patches (mosaics),
and the deformed leaf on the left.

Dark green stripes on leaf stalks of papaya, caused

by Papaya ringspot virus - type P.
 BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT

Rice bacterial blight, also called bacterial blight of rice, deadly bacterial disease that is among
the most destructive afflictions of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa and O. glaberrima). In
severe epidemics, crop loss may be as high as 75 percent, and millions of hectares of rice are
infected annually. The disease was first observed in 1884–85 in Kyushu, Japan, and the causal
agent, the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae (also referred to as Xoo), was
identified in 1911, at that time having been named Bacillus oryzae. Thriving in warm,
humid environments, bacterial blight has been observed in rice-growing regions of Asia, the
western coast of Africa, Australia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Although not commonly
found in the United States, a bacterial strain related to Xoo has been listed as an agricultural
select agent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a designation that places it under strict
regulations.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Bacterial blight first becomes evident as water-soaked streaks that spread from
the leaf tips and margins, becoming larger and eventually releasing a milky ooze that dries into
yellow droplets. Characteristic grayish white lesions then appear on the leaves, signaling the late
stages of infection, when leaves dry out and die. In seedlings, the leaves dry out and wilt, a
syndrome known as kresek. Infected seedlings usually are killed by bacterial blight within two to
three weeks of being infected; adult plants may survive, though rice yield and quality are
diminished.
 
 The symptoms appear on leaf blades and sheaths as small linear, water-soaked areas that
soon elongated and coalesce into irregular, narrow, yellowish, or brownish stripes. Severe
infection cause leaves to turn yellow and die from the tip to downward. They also retard spike
elongated and cause blushing. The small lesion from on the kernels as well.

RECURRENCE OF THE DISEASE

The disease develops mainly in rainy, damp weather. The bacteria overwinter on the seed and
crop residues and are spread by rain, direct contact with an insect.

CONTROL MEASURE
The main control measures are the use of disease-free or treated seeds and crop rotation. Stubble
and straw should be burned after paddy harvesting on unhealthy soil. After seeing the disease, an
additional 20 kg of potash fertilizer per acre should be applied to the water. Spraying chelated
zinc at the rate of 1 gram per liter of water reduces the severity of the disease. Methods of
controlling rice bacterial blight are limited in effectiveness. Chemical control has been largely
ineffective in minimizing bacterial blight because of safety concerns, practicality, and bacterial
resistance. Biological control methods, which rely on the use of bacterial antagonists of
pathogens (disease-causing organisms), can reduce bacterial blight, though their use has been
limited. The most-common method of defending against rice bacterial blight is the cultivation of
rice varieties with genes that confer resistance to Xoo infection. Over 30 resistance genes,
termed Xa1 to Xa33, have been identified in rice plants, and some, such as Xa21, have
been integrated into the genomes of commercial rice strains. These resistant rice varieties have
been largely successful, dramatically reducing yield losses in many rice-producing countries.

FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

 Clipping of tip of the seedling at the time of transplanting.

 Heavy rain
 Heavy dew
 Flooding
 Deep irrigation water
 Severe wind
 Temperature of 25-30 degrees
 Application of Nitrogen
 MANAGEMENT

Planting resistant varieties has been proven to be the most efficient, most reliable, and cheapest
way to control bacterial blight.

Other disease control options include:

 Use balanced amounts of plant nutrients, especially nitrogen.

 Ensure good drainage of fields (in conventionally flooded crops) and nurseries.
 Keep fields clean. Remove weed hosts and plow under rice stubble, straw, rice ratoons
and volunteer seedlings, which can serve as hosts of bacteria.
 Allow fallow fields to dry in order to suppress disease agents in the soil and plant
residues.
 ABACA & BANANA PLANT DISEASE

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is a plant pathogenic virus of the

family Nanoviridae known for infecting banana plants and other crops. It is aphid transmitted.

Banana bunchy top is a viral disease caused by a single-stranded DNA virus called the banana
bunchy top virus (BBTV). It was first identified in Fiji in 1879, and has spread around the world
since then.[1] Like many viruses, BBTV was named after the symptoms seen, where the infected
plants are stunted and have "bunchy" leaves at the top.[2] The disease is transmitted from plant-to-
plant in tropical regions of the world by aphids,[3] banana aphids which can also feed
on Heliconia and flowering ginger (from the family Zingiberaceae), which is an important factor
in control of the disease. There are no resistant varieties, so controlling the spread by vectors and
plant materials are the only management methods.[1] Symptoms include spotting any deformed
plant appearance.

Abaca bunchy top is caused by ABTV, a distinct member in the genus Babuvirus,

family Nanoviridae (Sharman et al., 2008). The virus has been recorded from Malaysia and the
Philippines (Ocfemia, 1930). ABTV causes vein clearing flecks and narrow, brittle leaves with
chlorotic upturned margins in abaca; in Cavendish banana, symptoms are indistinguishable from
those of BBTV (Diekmann & Putter, 1996; Su, Tsao, Wu, & Hung, 2003).

TRANSMISSION
All babuviruses are aphid transmitted including BBTV. Information is lacking regarding vector-
virus interactions. The virus is transmitted through vegetative planting material and tissue
cultured plants derived from infected sources. There are no reports on vector transmission.
However, since the virus is a member of the genus Babuvirus, it is conceivable that the banana
aphid, P. nigronervosa, may able to transmit ABTV in a persistent and circulative manner similar
to BBTV. PCR assays have been established for ABTV detection (Sharman et al., 2008).

NANOVIRIDAE

Babuviruses naturally infect monocots (Musa and Amomum spp.) and are vectored by

the banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa (CBDV also by Micromyzus
kalimpongensis Basu). BBTV and ABTV infect bananas (Musa spp.) and closely related species
within the Musaceae, such as M. textilis Née and Ensete ventricosum Cheesem. There are no
confirmed non-Musa hosts of BBTV and ABTV. Symptoms of BBTV include plant stunting,
foliar yellowing and most characteristic dark green streaks on the pseudostem, petioles and
leaves. 
There is not much information on CBDV, which has recently been found associated with
a serious disease (“Foorkey”) of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) in India. BBTV
and ABTV have a genome consisting of six different ssDNA components, referred to as DNA-R,
-S, -C, -M, -N, and -U3 .
Since they have been identified from all babuvirus isolates studied in greater detail, they
are considered integral components of the babuvirus genome. Although there are several BBTV
isolates from which a DNA-U3 has not been identified, most babuviruses seem to possess a
specific DNA component (DNA-U3) of unknown function. Only for DNA-U3 of BBTV-[AU]
(L41576) has an RNA transcript been reported.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Abaca (Musa textilis nee) is a member of the Musaceae family to which the banana also belongs.
Although the resemblance of the abaca to banana is close, there are basic differences. Abaca
stalks are more slender, the leaves are smaller, narrower and more pointed than those of the
banana. A distinguishing dark line on the right hand side of the upper surface of the leaf blade is
pronounced in abaca. The fruit of abaca is smaller, non-edible and contains ,many seeds.
 CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

Soil Requirement
Abaca grows in clay loam and sandy clay loam types of soil, rich in organic, matter,
loose, friable and well-drained. The water table is preferably 80 cm with 60%-80% saturation.
The Soil has pH level of 6.0-7.0 and elevation of less than 1,000 m above sea leave.

Climatic Requirements
The optimum temperatures requirements for abaca has not been fully determined, but it grows in
areas with temperatures of 20’C during cool months and 25’C during warm months. A relative
humidity of 78% to 85% and evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year are conditions
conductive to good growth.

METHODS OF PROPAGATION
 Seed pieces (corms)
 Suckers
 Tissue
 Culture Seeds

PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

Some Major Pests and Their Control

 Brown Aphid (Pentalonia nigronervous coq) directly feeds on abaca plant and acts as
vector of bunchy top and mosaic diseases. Spray systematic insecticides with appropriate
contact.
 Root or Corm Weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus Germar) directly feeds on corm. Keep
plantation clean and soak abaca seedpieces with the recommended insecticide before
planting.
 Slug Caterpillar (thosea sinensis Walker) feeds directly on leaves. Spray with
recommended insecticides.
 SOME MAJOR DISEASE AND THEIR CONTROL

Abaca Mosaic
- is caused by abaca mosaic petiole, pseudostem, flower bracts and fruits. This disease
causes leaf mottling found in the petiole, pseudostem , flower bracts and fruits. Formation
of irregular, pale green or yellowish streaks on the leaves can be seen extending from
midrib to the leaf margin. Spray insecticides to to vectors and infected plants including
the surrounding weeds before rouging and burning the infested plants.

Abaca Bunchy Top

- is the caused by a persistent types of virus. There are chlorotic areas on young leaves and
the damage is characteristics by stunted and bunchy growth of the plant forming a rosette
with bladeless leaves. The leaves become stiff and brittle with tear along the the margin
and curried upwards and dry . Spray infected plants with insecticides to kill vectors .
Undertaken rouging and burning of diseased plants.