Dr. Sesha Kiran Kollipara is the Senior Scientist (Plant Pathology) at Horticulture Research Station (Dr. YSR Horticultural University) in Madanapalle, Chittoor Dt, Andhra Pradesh. To know more view https://bit.ly/3FAOB2k
Dr. Sesha Kiran Kollipara says plant viruses are a serious constraint to the cultivation of crop plants particularly horticultural crops in India and across the world. Losses range from 10-100% depending on the crop, strain and variety in cultivation. Banana bract mosaic virus, banana bunchy top virus, chilli leaf curl virus, cassava mosaic virus, citrus mosaic virus, citrus tristeza virus, tomato leaf curl virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, papaya ringspot virus are some of the important viral diseases threatening the cultivation causing serious losses. Plant viral diseases are spread by mechanical transmission and variety of vectors like whiteflies, mealy bugs, thrips, aphids etc., Plant viruses can be effectively managed by cultivation of resistant varieties, disease free certified planting material, management of vector population through insecticides etc., Coat protein mediated resistance has also been employed for managing plant viral diseases in crops like Papaya.