Division of Mycology & Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012 (India).
*Present address: Dr. (Mrs.) Sharmita Gupta. C/o, Mr. A. C. Gupta. 11139, Leela Phool Kutir, Hariparbat Crossing, Agra-282 002, Uttar Pradesh (India).
Pathogenicity tests of Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans isolates 19A (VLP infected) and 7B (VLP free) were carried out vn potted mango seedlings in the glasshouse. Symptoms appeared eight months after inoculation. In the case of potted mango plants inoculated with VLP infected isolate (19A), shoot malformation appeared in all the three replications. Mango plants inoculated with VLP free isolate (7B), exhibited no such malformation and plants were similar to the uninoculated control plants. This experimental evidence provides for the first time a possible explanation of cases where Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans did not induce mango malformation symptoms. A newer dimension has, thus, been added to demonstrate mycovirus of Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans as casual agent of mango shoot malformation.
