‘Katte’ Disease of Small Cardamom and Its Control*

Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) known as ‘Queen of spices’ has been threatened by a disease called, ‘Katte’, or ‘Mosaic’ or ‘Marble’. Seeds collected from diseased plants did not carry ‘Katte’, but they germinated poorly. One of the components of ‘Katte’ was transmitted by sap to Crotalaria striata, Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Dwarf stringless and Vigna sinensis cv. Black Eye. Katte is considered to be a complex disease consisting of more than one virus or infectious agents. Fourteen different aphids were shown to act as vectors for the first time. Pentalonia nigronervosa f. caladi was considered to be potent vector, while 9 aphids were considered as efficient vectors. Alpinia speciosa, Hedychium coronarium and Zingiber fairchildii were found to be resistant to ‘Katte’. Small cardamom was shown to be susceptible to Katte and Foorkey. The relationship of Chirke and Katte has yet to be worked out.