ARS | Publication request: Viral diseases and their control

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 2008
Publication Date: June 1, 2009
Citation: Kumari, S., Larsen, R.C, Makkouk, K., and Bashir, M. Viral diseases and their control. 2009. Pages 306-326 in: The Lentil. (W. Erskine, F. Muehlbauer, A. Sarker, and B. Sharma, eds.) CAB International, New York.

Technical Abstract: Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is grown as a pulse crop in many parts of the world including Australasia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, North African, southern Europe and parts of North, Central and South America. It is consumed either as a whole seed or after decortication. The milling wastes and its straw provide nutritious feed for animals. Biotic and as well as abiotic factors are major constraints that cause yield instability and limit the realization of full yield potential in lentil. Many of the diseases which affect lentil, especially those induced by viruses, can also infect other food and forage legumes. The relative importance of these viruses, however, varies depending on the geographical location and the agroecological conditions of the crop production system. Grain yield loss from virus infection varies from little or none to complete crop failure. The amount of crop loss or damage caused by viruses depends on the incidence of infection, severity of symptoms, and the time of infection during crop development. Worldwide, lentils are susceptible to at least 29 different virus species representing 16 genera belonging to 8 families with genomes comprised of single-stranded RNA or DNA Among the most important viruses that infect lentil are Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Bean leafroll virus (BLRV), Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), Beet western yellows virus (BWYV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV), Pea enation mosaic virus-1 (PEMV-1), Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) and Pea streak virus (PeSV). We have provided a review the work done on the most economically important viruses that infect lentil, their transmission, ecology and epidemiology, and describe sensitive assays available for their detection and appropriate control measures.