Survey and biological characterization of leaf curl disease of Mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Abstract

Mesta is an important fibre crop and is affected by several biotic and abiotic factors. Among the different biotic factors, mesta leaf curl disease is new emerging threat for the production of mesta. The incidence of the disease varied from 20 to 80 per cent in southern India with highest disease incidence of 81.66 per cent observed in Raichur district of Karnataka state. The infected plants showed vein clearing, vein thickening, upward curling of leaves with twisting of petioles, leathery and small sized leaves and further the infected plants showed stunted growth. The samples were collected from the adjoining talukas of Raichur and subjected to amplification. All the samples failed to give amplification for DNA-B component. So the disease is considered as a monopartite begomovirus.