Phyiopath. 'I., 73, 277—278 (1972)© 1972 Verlsg Paul Party, Berlin und Hamburg

K u r z e M i t t e i l u n g e n

Division of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Indian Agric. Research Institute,Ne-w Delhi-12

Mosaic of Boerhaavia diffusa L. — First Record from India

By

SHAMSHER SINGH and V. S. VERMA

With one figure

Received Juty 12, 1971

Boerhaavia diffusa h., a common weed of Delhi, has often been found to beaffected with a disease, the symptoms of which suggested its possible viralnature. The disease is very wide-spread, and ahnost all plants seen were foundto be affected.

The symptoms of the disease as observed in nature surprise by dark greenmosaic mottling of the leaves. In severe infected cases, the leaf size is somewhatreduced and affected leaves at timesshow slight puckering (fig-).

The disease is easily transmissibleby grafting and the incubation periodvaries from 25—35 days. Transmissionof the disease through the aphids, Aphiscraccivora Koch, A. gossypH Glov. andMyzHs persicae Sulz was not successful.The virus, however, could also not betransmitted by White flies (Bemisiatabaci Gen.).

Fig. Leaf of Boerhaavia diffusa showing mo-saic mottling

278 SINGH and VERMA, Mosaic of Boerhaavia diffusa L. — First Record from India

All attempts to transmit the disease through various methods of medianicalinoculation with sap extracted from infected leaves have been unsuccessful.

In the host-range studies in addition to several economic plants, some weedsare also included. It is evident from the host-range studies that virus is rectrictedto the genus Boerhaavia. The virus failed to infect the following cultivars andweeds.

Nyctaginaceae: Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd.Mirahilis jalapa L.

Solanaceae: Nicotiana tabacum L.Nicotiana tahacum L. var. XanthiNicotiana tahacum L. var. White BurleyLycopersicon esculentum Mill.Solanum melongena L.Solanum khasianum ClarkeDatura stramonium L.

Chenopodiaceae: Chenopodium album L.Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste & Reyn.Beta vulgaris L.

Compositae: Blumea lacera DC.Labitae: Ocimum sanctum L.Leguminosae: Arachis hypogea L.

Cyamopsis tetragonoloha DC.Crotalaria juncea L.

Cucurbitaceae: Cucumis melo L.

A review of literature revealed there is no record from anywhere of anyvirus disease affecting Boerhaavia. This constitutes the first record of a virusdisease on Boerhaavia in India.

Zusammenfassung

Mosaikkrankhcit an Boerhaavia diffusa L.

Es wird erstmalig iiber eine in Indien weit verbreitete Mosaikkrankheit anBoerhaavia diffusa, einem dort hiiufigen Unkraut beriditet. Die Krankheits-symptome werden beschrieben. Die Krankheit liefi sich leicht durdi Pfropfungiibertragen, dagegen schlugen Blattlausiibertragungen und medianische Ober-tragung durdi Prefisaft fchl. Nach erfolglosen Infektionsversudien an 16 Pflan-zenarten aus sieben Familien diirfte das Virus auf die Gattung Boerhaaviabeschrankt sein.

Wo thank Dr. S. P. RAVCHAUDHURI, Head, Division of Mycology and Plant Pathology,Indian Agricultural Rcscardi Institute, New Delhi-12 for guidance and critically reading themanuscript.

Authors' address: Division of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Indian Agric. ResearchInstitute, New Delhi-12.