Diseases of Fruit Plantation Medicinal and Aromatic Crops

Papaya mosaic disease

It is a viral disease, transmitted by aphids; Aphis gossypii and A.malvae.
Causal organism: Papaya moasaic virus
Symptoms
• The disease attacks papaya plants of all age groups, but is most serious on young plants. The aphids are responsible for transmitting the disease.
• The disease symptoms appear first on the top young leaves
• The leaves are reduced in size and show blister like patches of dark-green tissue, alternating with yellowish-green lamina.
• The leaf petiole is reduced in length and the top leaves assume an upright position.
• Infected plants show a marked reduction in growth.
• Fruits borne on diseased plants develop water soaked lesions with a central solid spot. Such fruits are elongated and reduced in size.


Managenment

• Good field sanitation and removal and destruction of infected plants reduce the spread of the disease.
• Losses can be minimized by controlling the aphid population.
• Application of Carbofuran (1 kg a.i. /ha) at the time of sowing followed by 2-3 foliar sprays of Phosphamidon (0.05%) at an interval of 10 days starting from 15-20 days after sowing effectively checks the population of aphids.