Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Kalimpong-734301.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the 16th Annual Convention and International Symposium of Indian Virological Society on “Management of Vector-Borne Viruses” at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru-502324, Hyderabad, India, February 7–10, 2006.
Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum), orange (Citrus reticulata), ginger (Zingiber officinale), chayote (Sechium edule), chilli (Capsicum annuum cv. Dalley), rai (Brassica juncea var. cuneifolia), gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) and orchids are important commercial crops of Darjeeling and Sikkim hills which are affected by one or more virus diseases. These virus diseases are either aphid-borne or whitefly-borne. Chirke and Foorkey, two of the virus diseases affecting large cardamom, is aphid-transmitted. While Chirke is transmitted by Rhopalosiphum maidis and Myzus persicae, Foorkey is transmitted by Micromyzus kalimpongensis. Citrus tristeza virus affecting orange cultivation in hills is solely vectored by Toxoptera citricidus. Chilli mosaic and Rai mosaic gets transmitted by M. persicae. Bemisia tabaci was found to be associated with the transmission of at least four plant virus diseases in Darjeeling hills namely, Yellow mosaic of chayote, Yellow vein mosaic of hopestes (Dicliptera buplenroides), Yellow vein netting of honeysuckle (Lonicera glabrata) and Yellow vein netting of mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus). Altogether 16 host plant species belonging to 12 families were monitored from August 1998 to March 2001 for the infestation by B. tabaci in Darjeeling hills at altitudes ranging from 1150 metres to 1280 metres above mean sea level. Out of the 16 plant species, 14 plant species, viz. Ageratum conyzoides, Alangium begoniaefolium, Azellia sp., Boehmeria macrophylla var. canescens, Dicliptera buplenroides, Eupatorium adenophorum, Ficus auriculata, Ficus hirta, Lantana camara, Litsaea monopetala, Lonicera glabrata, Malvaviscus arboreus, Rubus ellipticus and Solanum xanthocarpum were both the breeding and feeding hosts, while Crassocephalum crepidioides and Sida acuta were the feeding hosts only. Out of the 16 plant species under observation, the most preferred breeding and feeding hosts were Azellia sp. and Ficus hirta respectively.
