Survey and Host Range Studies of Yellow Mosaic Virus Infecting Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.)

Yellow mosaic disease caused by a Begomovirus has become an important production constraint in lima bean cultivation in Karnataka. Survey conducted during 2013–14 to assess the yellow mosaic disease incidence in lima bean growing areas of selected districts of southern dry zone of Karnataka revealed the occurrence of the disease in the range of 25.3 to 81.1 per cent. Among the districts surveyed, highest average disease incidence was recorded in Chikkaballapura (72.03%) followed by Kolar (68.03%), Bengaluru rural (64.53%) and least incidence was recorded in Ramanagara (31.95%) district. Lima bean yellow mosaic virus was successfully transmitted to French bean, horsegram, pole bean, ring bean and soybean through whiteflies (B. tabaci). However the virus could not be transmitted to other legume plants viz., greengram, blackgram, cowpea, pigeonpea, yard long bean, field bean, moth bean, rice bean and cluster bean indicating these plant species are not the hosts for yellow mosaic virus of lima bean.