Okra yellow vein mosaic virus

Begomovirus abelmoschusharyanaense is a viral pathogen belonging to the genus Begomovirus within the Geminiviridae family. It is the causative agent of yellow vein mosaic disease, a condition that severely impacts the physiological processes of host plants by hijacking their replication machinery.

The primary host for this virus is okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). The virus is known to have a host range that extends to several weed species within the Malvaceae family, which serve as essential reservoirs for the virus, ensuring its survival between planting seasons in agricultural regions.

The characteristic symptom of the infection is the distinctive chlorosis (yellowing) of leaf veins, which eventually spreads across the entire leaf, creating a mosaic pattern. Infected plants often show stunted growth, reduced internode length, and distorted fruit development. The overall photosynthetic capacity is drastically reduced, leading to poor yield performance.

Transmission occurs exclusively via the whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci. The development of the disease is highly correlated with environmental conditions that favor whitefly populations, such as high temperature and high humidity. Once a whitefly feeds on an infected plant, it can transmit the virus to healthy okra plants, facilitating rapid spread across the field.

The disease causes significant economic loss, often resulting in total crop failure if management practices are not implemented early. Control strategies focus on integrated pest management (IPM), which includes using resistant cultivars, applying systemic insecticides to control whitefly populations, and practicing strict field hygiene. Uprooting and destroying infected plants is critical to preventing further transmission.