INTRODUCTION TO PLANT VIRUSES

Virus:
Virus is set of one or more nucleic acid template molecules normally
encased in coats of protein or lip-protein and organize its own
replication only within specific host cells
Virion:
A complete mature viral particle is called virion
Prion:
Smaller infectious protein particles encoded by a chromosomal gene
of the host cells
Viroids: Small, low-molecular-weight ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that
can infect plant cells, replicate themselves and cause disease. OR
Naked, single-stranded circular molecule of infectious RNA called
viroid
Virusoids:
The extra-small circular RNA component of some isometric RNA
viruses

Importance of Plant Viruses

Plant viruses are viruses that multiply by using

the material synthesized by the host to
manufacture new virus particles and cause
infection
Beneficial Aspects:
Used as color breaking agent in ornamental
plants. Ornamental plants become attractive e.g.
Tulip mosaic virus
Used as a vector in genetic engineering, CuMV
Viruses used as a cross protection

Harmful Aspects

Causes harmful diseases in humans, animals,

and plants
Cause reduction in the growth of the plants.
Reduction in yield and ultimately failure of the
crop
Affect the quality and quantity of the production
Make the plants more vulnerable to other
organisms (Insects) e.g. TMV, SCMV, CLCuV,
CTV

COTTON LEAF CURL DISEASE

CLCuV, ssDNA
Genus: Begomovirus, Family: Geminiviridae
Occurrence

& Importance:
First reported in Nigeria in 1912
In 1959 from Philippines
In 1967 in Pakistan near Multan
Epidemic form in 1993-95 in Pakistan
Most serious disease of cotton
Cause losses from 22.38-68.50%

Symptoms
Thickening

of veins
Color of infected plants become dark
green
Upward or downward curling of leaves
Leaf enation
Twisted leaf petioles
Stunting of plants

Symptoms

Symptoms

Disease Cycle
Not

seed or soil-borne
Over winter on alternate hosts (tomato,
tobacco, beans, lehli, okra, datura etc
Transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
30 Min. feeding on infected plants
24 hours latent period
30 Min. inoculation feeding period
Retention period: through out life of
whitefly

Epidemiology
temp. 27-28 0C
Maximum temp. 38-40 0C
Relative humidity: 56-60%
Susceptible host on large area
Less rainfall or no rainfall
Abundance of whitefly population
Minimum

Management
Tolerant

varieties, NIBGE-2, NIAB-111,

PB-899, CIM-446, MNH-786
Destruction of alternate hosts
Uproot & burry first observed infected
plants
Control insect vector (Imidacloprid, polo)
Use of nutrients also help to reduce the
disease incidence

BANANA BUNCHY TOP DISEASE

(BBTV), ssDNA VIRUS
(Genus Babuvirus, Family Nanoviridae)
Most

important disease of banana crop

Occur in all banana producing countries
(Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Srilanka, Pakistan, India)
Infected plants produce no fruits

Symptoms
Dark

green streaks seen on petioles &

veins of new leaves looking against light
Leaves arise in clusters
Margins of leaves become chlorotic &
rolled upward
Top of plant become narrow, upright &
closer appearing bunchy
Plants show stunted growth
Inflorescence fails to emerge

Disease cycle
Vector:

Black banana aphid (Pentalonia

nigronervosa)
Also transmitted through propagative
materials (rhizomes, suckers, tissuecultured meristem)
Aphid feed 17 hrs to become infective
Maxi. Vector concentration at base of stem

Disease cycle

Epidemiology
18-20 0C

temperature
41-84% Relative Humidity

Management

Quarantine measures
Use of virus free propagative material
Locating new plantation away from old
Destroying all volunteer banana plants
Uprooting & burning of infected plants
Control vector with insecticidal soap water spray
or insecticides (Prentox Diazinon AG500)
Cultivate resistant varieties (Gross Michel)

Potato Leaf Roll Disease

(PLRV), ssRNA
Genus: Polerovirus, Family: Luteoviridae
Occur

world wide
Most destructive virus of potato
Yield losses more than 50%

Symptoms
Appear

mostly on lower leaves

Leaflets roll upwards
Margins & tips of leaves become yellow
Leaves become leathery & brittle
Plants stunted & have upright growth
No. of tubers/plant & size is reduced
Phloem necrosis occur in tubers

Disease cycle
More

than 10 species of aphid act as

vector (Myzus persicae)
Infected tubers are primary source of
infection
Aphid feed for several hrs (48-54 hrs)
Alternate hosts are Datura stramonium

Epidemiology
15-20 0C

temperature
40-65% Relative Humidity

Management
Obtain

certified seed
Plant early in the season
Pulled out sick plants as soon as located
Detop plants in last week of December
Apply systemic insecticides (aldicarb,
carbofuran)

Tobacco Mosaic Virus

(TMV) ss-RNA
Genus: Tobamovirus, Family: Virgaviridae
First

virus ever discovered in history

Known to occur in all the tobacco growing
countries of the world
55% reduction in yield has been reported
Sub stranded produce fetch low price in
the market

Symptoms
Leaves

show mild veins clearing

Mottle and mosaic pattern
Light discoloration along the veins of
young leaves
Wrinkling, crinkling, twisting margins and
narrowing of leaf lets
Dwarfing of entire plant

Disease cycle and epidemiology

Survive in herbaceous and woody plants

Tomato, Potato, pepper grown indoor are source
of infection
Virus present in plant debris, soil, cloths and
even manufactured tobacco cigarette and cigar
Contact with the wounded plants
No insect vector, Mechanical transmission
Wide host range of 500 species of flowering
plants
Temp. 28-32 C, RH 44-56%

Management
Use

clean and healthy seed in the nursery

All workers should disinfect their hands
Rouging
Crop rotation maize and wheat, avoiding
tomato and pepper
Healthy leaves harvest first than infected
one
Field sanitation practices

Sugarcane Mosaic Virus Disease

(SCMV) ss-RNA
Family: Potyviridae Genus: Potyvirus

First

recorded in Java in 1892, in Punjab in

1926-27
Occur in every sugarcane growing
country
Estimated yield losses vary greatly upon
cultivar and environmental conditions

SYMPTOMS

Contrasting shades of green, islands of normal

green or yellowish chlorotic areas on the leaf
blade
leaf reddening or necrosis
Chlorotic areas most evident at base of the leaf
Chlorotic areas may also be present on the leaf
sheath, but rarely on the stalk
Young, rapidly growing plants are more
susceptible to infection

Disease cycle and epidemiology

There

are three principal modes of spread

of SCMV:
(1) by aphid vectors,
(2) by infected seed cane and
(3) by mechanical inoculation.
Only aphid vectors and infected seed cane
are important in the field.
Temp. 35-38 C, RH 68-78%

Management

Resistant varieties is the most effective method

of mosaic control
Management practices targeting insect vectors
Control of mosaic through heat treatment only
practical in quarantine situations
Some plants recover from mosaic by nutritional
application

Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV)

or Quick decline, ss-RNA
Family: Closteroviridae Genus: Closterovirus

Biggest threats to citrus production in globe

More than 30 virus, virus-like diseases of citrus
known in the world, of which CTV is the most
destructive.
The first tristeza disaster was reported in 1930's
in Argentina, where 90% of the citrus was
planted on sour orange rootstock

Symptoms

Yellowing of leaves
Dieback of the phloem in the sour orange
rootstock below the bud union
Rootstock being girdled
'Slow decline' where trees decline in a period of
years
Stunting where the virus does not kill the tree,
but the tree does not grow
Deep pits are present under depressed areas of
the bark

Disease cycle

Vectors of CTV are black or brown citrus aphid

(Toxoptera citricida)
Due to the aphid introduction, CTV rate of
spread has increased dramatically
Additionally, growers have aided in the spread of
the virus with the propagation of trees using
infected bud-wood.
Temperature, 20-27 0C RH, 55-70%

Management

Exclude any introduction of severe strains

Need for mild strain protection in the future
Strict control by quarantine must be continued
Rootstocks that offer resistance to tristeza
decline include the citranges (C-35, Carrizo,
Troyer), Citrumelos (Swingle), mandarins

THANKS
Dr. Safdar Ali
Dr. Luqman Amrao