Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, N.H-IV, Faridabad-121001.
Abstracts of Research Papers Presented during the National Symposium of Indian Virological Society at Unit of Plant Virology, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, October 14–1.
The phenomenal increase in trade in agriculture under the influence of WTO regime may pose the risk of introduction and spread of destructive pests of crops in particular viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas. Viruses such as banana bunchy top virus, which got introduced in the past, has inflicted serious crop losses in several states and threatened the cultivation of hill banana in Tamil Nadu State. Recently notified Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 and amendments issued there under has listed more than 180 viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas for which additional declarations and special conditions such as inspection and certification of mother crop for virus-freedom are required to be incorporated in the phytosanitary certificate issued at the country of origin. Pest risk analysis has been made mandatory under the said Order for allowing import of plants and plant material. Proper authentication of first report of viruses are critical before its publication and the weeding out of unauthenticated published records of viruses is all the more important and establishment of authenticated virus database is critical for proper evaluation of pest risks and specification of appropriate phytosanitary measures. Also there is a need for developing molecular diagnostic facilities at the four regional plant quarantine centres viz., Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi for rapid diagnosis of viruses and developing of virus diagnostic protocols for detection of exotic viruses. Stringent and rigorous post-entry quarantine inspections are critical for detection of latent infections. The Virus diagnostic facilities established at Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, IARI, New Delhi, IIHR, Bangalore, Institute of Himalayan Bio-resources Technology, Palampur (H.P.) have been notified for testing imported tissue cultures as well as export certification and issuance of phytosanitary certificate. Strengthening of domestic regulatory measures are vital to prevent the spread of viruses transmitted through seed/stock material and this should be adequately supported by dynamic seed/stock certification programmes.
