Status of papaya viral disease incidence during Kharif, Rabi and summer seasons in Begusarai district of north Bihar

Abstract

Papaya is the most important fruit crop grown is Begusarai district of Bihar. Susceptibility of papaya to a number of viral diseases like mosaic, leaf curl and ring spot is the limiting factor for its economic production. A systematic survey was conducted during 2013-15 to assess the effect of sowing season in nursery and planting season in the main field on natural incidence of papaya viral diseases spread in five blocks of Begusarai district in north Bihar. During survey nursery sown for kharif, rabi and summer transplantation were free from the incidence of leaf curl and ring spot virus diseases but they had the incidence of mosaic in the range of 2.24 to 8.0% (Seed sown in June) for kharif transplantation, 1.24 to 6.30% (seed sown in October) for rabi transplantation and in the range of 0.20 to 1.40% (seed sown in March) for summer transplantation The incidence of mosaic in the range of 24.70 to 42.20%, leaf furl of 2.15 to 4.75% and ring spot virus disease range of 22.50 to 36.40% were recorded from plants transplanted in kharif season whereas incidence of mosaic in the range of 18.60 to 33.20%, leaf curl of 1.20 to 3.50% and ring spot 17.25 to 30.75% were counted on plants transplanted in rabi season. The incidence of mosaic in the range of 8.25 to 20.40%, leaf curl of 0.00 to 1.25% and ring spot of 7.70 to 18.70% were recorded from plants transplanted in summer season. The total viral diseases in the range of 49.37 to 83.35%, 37.70 to 66.25% and 15.95 to 40.35% were recorded respectively from kharif, Rabi and summer transplanted papaya fields.