Abelmoschus yellow vein mosaic

Abelmoschus yellow vein mosaic is a destructive viral disease caused by Begomovirus abelmoschusflavi. It is one of the most serious limiting factors in the cultivation of crops such as okra, leading to significant yield losses and severe economic damage to vegetable production.

The virus primarily targets species within the Malvaceae family. It spreads extensively in tropical and subtropical regions where the host plants are grown, often surviving in alternative weed hosts during the off-season, which makes management challenging.

Symptoms are distinct and easily identifiable: they manifest as a brilliant yellow network of veins on the leaves, known as vein clearing. As the infection progresses, the entire leaf may turn yellow, and fruit production is severely restricted, resulting in small, malformed pods.

The virus is transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci in a persistent circulative manner. Once the insect acquires the virus after feeding on an infected plant, it remains a vector for the rest of its life, effectively spreading the pathogen throughout the entire crop field.

Effective management requires an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to target both the vector and the virus spread.

• Regular monitoring of whitefly populations using yellow sticky traps.
• Application of selective insecticides to manage vector density.
• Use of virus-resistant okra varieties if commercially available.
• Removal and immediate destruction of symptomatic plants to reduce inoculum pressure.
• Keeping fields free of broadleaf weeds that may act as viral reservoirs.