Indian Phytopath. 68 (1) : 123-126 (2015)

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Survey, incidence and serological identification of leaf curl in eastern Uttar Pradesh

D.K. DUBEY1, A.K. TIWARI2* and P.P. UPADHYAY1 1Department of Botany, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur 273 009, Uttar Pradesh, 2Central Lab, U.P. Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahnapur 242 001, Uttar Pradesh, India

Key words: Papaya, Geminivirus, TLCNDV, DAC-ELISA, disease incidence

Papaya (Carica papaya L; family ‘Caricaceae’) is an During survey, 5-35% incidence of papaya leaf curl important fruit crop believed to be native of southern disease was recorded. A total of 65 locations were Mexico and neighboring Central America. It is grown in surveyed and the maximum disease incidence of 35% tropical and subtropical countries all over the world. India was recorded at nearly 12 locations (Table 1). The is the largest producer of papaya in the world. The limiting incidence of PLCV was higher in mature and older plants factor of papaya cultivation is its susceptibility to ring spot, in comparison to young plants. The maximum disease leaf curl, mosaic and distortion diseases (6). Among incidences were recorded during July-March. these, papaya leaf curl disease caused by PLCV is one The most common symptoms observed were severe of most serious threat to papaya cultivation in most of curling, crinkling and rolling of leaves, reduction and papaya-growing countries. Papaya leaf curl disease is deformation of petioles, internodes and main shoots. The caused by bipartite geminivirus (3).The vector associated leaves were drastically reduced in size and showed vein with disease is identified as (Bemisia tabaci) (5). clearing and vein banding. Leaf lamina were rolled In India, it was first recorded in Coimbatore (8). Later downwards and inwards in the form of inverted bowls on, the disease was reported from Delhi, Bihar, (Figs. 1-3). The severely affected plants devoid of flower Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh (5,9). and fruit. In advance stage of infection the growth of plants were ceased with drying of leaves followed by withering In northern India Verma (9) and Awasthi and Singh of the plants (Fig. 3). Similar symptoms were also (1) recorded the incidence of this disease up to 2-60%. described by other workers in different parts of the India The wide prevalence and severity of PLCV has and elsewhere (5,7). threatened papaya cultivation in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Papaya leaf curl virus disease has been reported from eastern Uttar Pradesh (7) but limited information is available on the occurrence and spread of PLCV. Hence, an attempt was made to record the incidence and symptoms of Papaya leaf curl disease and to identify the associated virus with ELISA test.

Extensive surveys were conducted during 2008- 2011 to record the incidence of papaya leaf curl (PLCV) disease in different papaya-growing areas of six districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, viz. Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Sant Kabirnagar and Siddharthnagar. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected and kept in plastic bags in deep freezer (-20°C) for further studies. Fifty-three papaya samples showing leaf curl and puckering symptoms were screened with TLCNDV polyclonal antisera to check the serological relationship of the causal virus, with the method described by Clark and Bar-Joseph (2). leaf curl Delhi virus (TLCNDV) antiserum was obtained from NBRI, Lucknow. Fig. 1. Symptoms of papaya leaf curl diesease at Gorakhpur (a) puckering of crown leaves (b) inverted bowl shaped *Corresponding author: [email protected] diseased leaves (c) deformed fruit; (d) twisted petiole 124 Indian Phytopathology 68 (1) : 123-126 (2015)

Fig. 2. Symptoms of papaya leaf curl diesease at Kushinagar Fig. 3. Symptoms of papaya leaf curl diesease at Sant Kabir (a) (a) curling of crown leaves and (b) deformed shape of close-up of affected papaya crown showing leaf rolling fruits and yellowing and (b) discoloring of papaya fruits

Table 1. Survey and disease Incidence of papaya leaf curl disease in different districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and serological relationship with Geminivirus polyclonal antiserum

District and Incidence of Serological relationships with Geminivirus polyclonal antiserum location papaya leaf O.D. value O.D. value I/H Reaction curl disease of infected of healthy/ ratio (%) samples control

Sant Kabir Nagar Bheeti Rawat 8 0.318 0.150 2.15 - Churabe 10 0.325 0.150 2.16 - Maghar 13 0.335 0.150 2.23 - Hariharpur 16 0.450 0.180 2.5 + Khleelabad 25 0.480 0.150 3.20 ++ St. Tersa nagar 35 0.470 0.150 3.13 ++ Nathnagar 35 0.450 0.150 3.16 ++ Siddharthnagar Baansi 5 0.330 0.150 2.21 - Uska bazaar 8 0.335 0.150 2.33 - Naugarh 10 0.355 0.150 2.36 Dumariyaganj 15 0.380 0.150 2.53 + Krishnanagar 18 0.385 0.150 2.56 Dumariyaganj 22 0.430 0.150 2.86 + Semarihawa 35 0.475 0.150 3.16 ++ Kushinagar Sukrauli 5 0.325 0.150 2.16 - Fhazilnagar 5 0.325 0.150 2.16 - Manpur 6 0.315 0.150 2.10 - Kundur 9 0.345 0.150 2.30 - Indian Phytopathology 68 (1) : 123-126 (2015) 125

Districts and Incidence of Serological relationships with Geminivirus polyclonal antiserum Location Papaya leaf O.D. value O.D. value I/H Reaction curl disease (%) of infected of healthy/ ratio samples control

Kasiya 10 0.365 0.150 2.43 - Pagara 12 0.368 0.150 2.45 Hetimpur 13 0.370 0.150 2.46 - Hata 15 0.395 0.150 2.63 + Seorahi 30 0.462 0.150 3.08 ++ Ramkola 35 0.480 0.150 3.20 ++ Deoria Madanpur 5 0.318 0.150 2.12 - Majhgawa 5 0.322 0.150 2.14 - Uma Nagar 10 0.327 0.150 2.18 - Bhaatpar Rani 11 0.331 0.150 2.20 - Ramlakhan 12 0.335 0.150 2.23 - Pathardewa 20 0.425 0.150 2.83 + Pakari bazaar 22 0.445 0.150 2.96 + Indupur 27 0.520 0.150 3.46 ++ Baitalpur 28 0.525 0.150 3.50 ++ Bhujawali colony 35 0.560 0.150 3.73 ++ Gorakhpur Jagdishpur 5 0.295 0.150 1.96 - Bharhalganj 5 0.300 0.150 2.0 - Gola baazar 6 0.315 0.150 2.1 - Bansgaon 8 0.330 0.150 2.20 - Khorabar 9 0.340 0.150 2.26 - Sahjanwa 12 0.350 0.150 2.33 - Padri Bazar 13 0.355 0.150 2.36 - Shakti nagar colony 15 0.362 0.150 2.41 - Basharatpur 18 0.395 0.150 2.63 + Jungal Kaudiya 20 0.412 0.150 2.74 + Rapti nagar 24 0.435 0.150 2.83 + Maaniram 27 0.466 0.150 3.10 ++ Motiram adda 30 0.490 0.150 3.26 ++ Sardarnagar 35 0.495 0.150 3.30 ++ Pipraeech 35 0.512 0.150 3.41 ++ Chauri-Chura 35 0.525 0.150 3.50 ++ Bhathat bazaar 35 0.540 0.150 3.60 ++ Peepiganj 35 560 0.150 3.73 ++ Mahrazganj Kolhawi Bazar 5 0.292 0.150 1.94 - Parasiya 10 0.305 0.150 2.03 - Anandnagar 10 0.316 0.150 2.10 - Adda Bazar 12 0.318 0.150 2.12 - Dhaanee 12 0.320 0.150 2.13 - Nautanwa 16 0.385 0.150 2.56 Shyamdeurawa 27 0.565 0.150 3.74 ++ Partawal 35 0.570 0.150 3.80 ++ Lehra 35 0.590 0.150 3.93 ++ Note: += Positive reaction; ++= Strong reaction; - = Negative reaction 126 Indian Phytopathology 68 (1) : 123-126 (2015)

A total of 53 symptomatic papaya samples were 2. Clark, M.F. and Bar-Joseph (1984). Enzyme tested with polyclonal antiserum to TLCNDV through immunosorbent assays in plant virology. In: Methods in DAC-ELISA test. Out of 53 samples, 21 were found Virology. Maramorsch, K. and Koprowski, H. (Eds), positive which indicating the relationship with Geminivirus Academic Press, New York, pp. 51-85. (Table 1). Hence, results revealed that papaya plants 3. Goodman, R.M. (1981). Geminiviruses. In: Hankbook of showing leaf curl symptoms were infected with papaya Plant Virus Infections. Kurstak, E. (Ed). Amsterdam: leaf curl geminivirus and was widespread all over eastern Elsevier/North-Holland, pp. 879-910. Uttar Pradesh. Studies on serological identification of 4. Nadeem, A., Mehmood, T., Khalid, S. and Xiong, Z. PLCV have been reported from Pakistan and China (1997). Plant Dis. 81: 133. (4,10). However in India, not much attempt has been done 5. Nariani, T.K. (1956). Indian Phytopath. 9: 151-157. with serological identification and characterization of virus associated with papaya leaf curl disease 6. Singh, A. (2006). ‘Studies of occurrence of papaya in eartern Uttar Pradesh and their possible management In our study we reported widespread occurrence of approaches’. PhD Thesis, University of Gorakhpur. PLCD caused by papaya leaf curl virus in six districts of 7. Sinha, V., Kumar, A., Bhatnagar, D. and Khan, J.A. (2013). eastern Uttar Pradesh. The symptom was so prevalent New Disease Reports 27: 9. that no affected crop was able to produce any fruit of 8. Thomas, K.M. and Krishanaswamy, C.S. (1939). Curr. economic value. We could confirm that PLCD is the most Sci. 8: 316-317. important disease of papaya in eastern U.P. and needs immediate attention for management and require further 9. Verma, A.K. (1991). CIHNP, Lucknow, India. Annual studies on epidemiology of the disease. Report, 1990-1991, pp. 35-36. 10. Wang, X.Y., Xie, Y. and Zhou, X.P. (2004). Virus Genes REFERENCES 29: 303-309.

1. Awasthi, L.P. and Singh, S. (2009). J. Plant Disease Received for publication: November 18, 2014 Sciences 4: 72-75. Accepted for publication: March 23, 2015