Okra yellow mosaic virus

Okra yellow mosaic is a serious viral disease caused by Begomovirus abelmoschusdehliense. As a member of the Geminiviridae family, this pathogen is widely recognized for its ability to cause devastating crop losses in okra production, particularly in tropical and subtropical agricultural regions globally.

The virus primarily affects okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). By hijacking the plant's metabolic pathways, the virus induces systemic symptoms that impair photosynthesis and nutrient transport. This physiological damage prevents the plant from reaching its genetic yield potential and negatively affects the aesthetic and market value of the harvested okra pods.

Visual identification of the disease is based on mosaic patterns on the leaves, which range from bright yellow to chlorotic patches. As the disease advances, leaves may curl, crinkle, or become stunted. Plants infected at an early stage remain significantly dwarfed, producing few or no marketable fruits, leading to complete failure in severely affected fields.

Transmission occurs exclusively via the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. The virus is acquired by the insect during feeding and then transmitted to healthy plants during subsequent feedings. The spread is facilitated by warm environmental conditions, which favor rapid whitefly population growth and increase the mobility of the vectors between host plants.

Management of the disease focuses on an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy:

• Utilizing resistant or tolerant okra varieties to mitigate yield loss.
• Implementing strict weed control to eliminate alternative hosts for the virus and whitefly.
• Applying effective insecticides targeting whitefly populations to reduce disease transmission rates.
• Maintaining field hygiene by removing symptomatic plants immediately upon detection.
• Practicing crop rotation to break the cycle of the vector and the virus.