TO IDENTIFY THE YELLOW VEIN MOSAIC VIRUS IN OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus

Dr Pradeep Kumar Saravat (Head)

 Department of Horticulture, UCBMS&H Sewla Khurd, Dehradun, UK

Host: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (bhindi, okra)
Disease name:  yellow vein mosaic virus  in okra
Okra leaf severely infected with Bhindi yellow vein mosaic virus ,    Spread by: White fly  (Bemisia tabaci )

Yellow vein mosaic virus in Bhindi or Okra was first reported in this plant in 1924 in India and Sri Lanka. The symptoms include alternate green and yellow patches, vein clearing, and vein chlorosis of leaves. The yellow network of veins is very conspicuous, and vein and veinlets are thickened. In severe cases, the chlorosis may extend to the interveinal area and may result in complete yellowing of leaves. Fruits are dwarfed, malformed, and yellow green. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) sibling species group is the insect vector. The whitefly vector reproduces to significant numbers during the summer season when it transmits the virus between okra plants. The causal agent is the single-stranded DNA Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV), which is associated with a beta satellite, both of which are required for infection. BYVMV belongs to the genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae.

Control of YVM Virus:

• Infected plants must be collected and burned.
• Insecticides can be sprayed for vector control (White fly).
• Moderately resistant cultivars, Co3 and Prabhani Kranti,Varsha Uphar, Karnal selection -1, Pant selection -1are available.
• Destroy host weeds, such asCroton sparsiflora and Ageralium spp
• Follow crop rotation.
• Control the insect vector by spraying dimethoate 0.03 per cent or monocrotophos 0. 05 per cent.