Indian Journal of Virology

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) a spice crop grown Malnad and Coastal parts accounts to more than 50% of ginger growing area of state. Mosaic and Veinal fleck disease was observed for the first time during August, 2003 on 11/2 to 2 month–old Ginger seedlings of Var. Himachal grown in area of 3 acres at Arekoppa village of Sirsi taluk with an incidence of 2.75%. In the following years it was found on other varieties. The characterized symptoms were mosaic on young leaves with distinct chlorotic flecks along veins and gradual paling and dwarfing. Transmission of pathogen through rhizome was evident with distinct mosaic and veinal fleck on sprouted leaves, but field spread studies from the tagged infected sources was blink. Electron micrscopic observations of leaf dip preparations of young leaf samples showing mosaic and chlorotic fleck symptoms showed Isometric particles of 28nm. indicating a viral etiology. This is the first evidential report of viral disease on Ginger in India. The virus is suspected to be Sobemo virus by looking to literature of work done in New Zealand and Queensland.