Pigeon Pea Cultivation: This virus destroys the pigeon pea crop, know its symptoms and prevention

Pigeon Pea Cultivation: Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), a significant pulse crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas, are susceptible to the deadly illness known as pigeon pea infertility mosaic virus. The virus is spread by the eriophyid mite Aceria cajani and is a member of the genus Comovirus. PPSMV poses a serious risk to the production of pigeon peas, resulting in significant yield losses and financial difficulties for producers.

Let’s examine the characteristics of the pigeon pea infertility mosaic virus illness, how it affects pigeon pea harvests, and important ways to prevent it.

Pigeon pea infertility mosaic virus symptoms

The pork The presence of spherical particles and a bipartite genome made up of RNA1 and RNA2 are characteristics of the Infertility Mosaic Virus (PPSMV) illness. The virus mostly affects the pigeon pea plant’s reproductive organs, resulting in sterility and a decrease in production. During eating, the eriophyid mite serves as a vector, spreading the virus.

Pigeon pea symptoms and consequences

Symptoms of the infection include leaf deformation, yellowing, and mosaic patterns on the infected pigeon pea plant. The largest detrimental impact, however, is shown during the reproductive stage, when the flowers experience sterility, which significantly affects pod formation and seed output. Food security and economic stability in regions reliant on pigeon pea farming are seriously threatened by PPSMV-induced sterility.

Controlling the sickness caused by the pigeon pea infertility mosaic virus

The virality of this illness is significantly reduced by the following actions:

Types that are resistant

One main tactic is to create and promote PPSMV-resistant pigeon pea cultivars. In order to lessen the virus’s effect, breeding programs seek to find and introduce resistance genes. This entails identifying resistant characteristics in economically viable types and screening pigeon pea germplasm for resistance.

Vector management

PPSMV is spread by eriophyid mites; hence, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are crucial. In order to keep mite populations under control, acaricides are used while predatory mites and other natural enemies are encouraged.

Within 40 days after seeding, infected plants should be identified and removed. As soon as the sickness manifests, spray 1 milliliter of fenazaquin per liter; if needed, repeat after 15 days.

Cultural actions

Implementing cultural strategies that lessen the likelihood of PPSMV spreading is crucial. These include keeping the crop healthy generally by appropriate fertilizer and watering, removing diseased plants, and ensuring adequate plant spacing.

Chemical procedures

PPSMV may be managed by the foliar administration of antiviral medications and systemic acquired resistance (SAR) inducers. These therapies help lessen symptoms and decrease the course of the illness, but there is no cure.

Crop diversity and rotation

By lessening the total viral load in the environment and interfering with the availability of vulnerable hosts, crop rotation and diversification of agricultural systems with non-host crops may interrupt the virus cycle.

Prospects for the future

New approaches to PPSMV management are being investigated via continuous research and development. The use of nanotechnology for targeted antiviral medication delivery, improvements in molecular breeding methods for resistant types, and the use of satellite and remote sensing technologies for early virus epidemic identification are all examples of this.