Studies on Virus Diseases of Some Ornamental Plants

Literature on virus diseases of ornamental plants reveal that very few virus diseases infecting ornamental plants have been reported from this country. The recent additions to the annual's group from the present studies are mosaic disease of balsom and sweet sultan and Phyllody of balsom and Zinnia respectively. A new strain of Chrysanthemum aspermy virus on Chrysanthamum indicum is the only virus reported on perennial ornamental plants. Three viruses, one causing mosaic on amryllis (Heppeas-trum vittatum Herb.) second and third causing mosaic and rings spot diseases on spiderlilly (Hymenocallis senegambica and Bouche) constitute the new records of these virus infecting the bulbs. Yellow vein mosaic of rose is the only virus reported on ornamentals belonging to the group of trees and shrubs.