Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387359
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Blackberry, Red and Black Raspberry, Blueberry, and Strawberry

Location: Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit

Title: Transmission and pathogenicity of papaya virus E: insights from an experimental papaya orchard

Author
item CORNEJO-FRANCO, JUAN - Centro De Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Del Ecuador
item REYES-PROANO, EDISON - Centro De Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Del Ecuador
item Mollov, Dimitre
item Mowery, Joseph
item QUITO-AVILA, DIEGO - Centro De Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Del Ecuador

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2021
Publication Date: 2/6/2022
Citation: Cornejo-Franco, J., Reyes-Proano, E., Mollov, D.S., Mowery, J.D., Quito-Avila, D. 2022. Transmission and pathogenicity of papaya virus E: insights from an experimental papaya orchard. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-21-1785-RE.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-21-1785-RE

Interpretive Summary: Papaya is a tropical fruit used for fresh consumption in many parts of the world. Papaya production is hindered by plant viruses. In this study we investigated the epidimiology of papaya virus E (PpVE). Transmission experiments with whyteflies showed that PpVE can be efficiently transmitted by this vector. Additionally we discovered that some weeds grown in papaya orchards host the virus and that when PpVE co-infects plants with other viruses symptomology and disease is more pronounced. These findings will help growers and orchard managers facilitate better control strategies for this viral disease.

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate epidemiological aspects of papaya virus E (PpVE), a cytorhabdovirus commonly found in papaya (Carica papaya) plantings of Ecuador. Besides papaya, PpVE was found in three Fabaceae weeds, including Rynchosia minima, Centrocema plumieri and Macroptilium lathyroides; the latter being the species with the highest virus prevalence. Greenhouse experiments showed that in M. lathyroides, single infections of PpVE induce only mild leaf mosaic, whereas in mixed infections with cowpea severe mosaic virus, PpVE induces severe mosaic. In papaya, PpVE did not induce discernable symptoms either in single or mixed infections with papaya ringspot virus. Transmission experiments confirmed that whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) transmit PpVE in a semi-persistent, non-propagative manner.