Description:

• Aphids aid in the transmission of the Papaya Ring Spot Virus.

Damage Symptoms:

• The lamina is reduced and malformed, often modified into tendril-like structures.

• Mottling and puckering of leaves, especially the young ones.

• Decline and marked reduction in the growth of diseased plants within 30–40 days.

• Older leaves fall, leaving a small tuft of younger leaves at the top in an upright position.

• The stem, petiole, and fruits develop elongated water-soaked areas showing concentric or circular rings.

• Fruit size is severely reduced with a deformed shape. Fruits develop innumerable circular, water-soaked lesions with spots in the centre.

Preventive Measures:

• Plant disease-free seedlings.

• Place sticky traps to control aphids in the field.

Control Measures:

• Remove the infected plants from the field.

• Apply 1 kg/ha of Carbofuran in the nursery bed, followed by spraying Phosphamidon (0.05%) on the plants 2-3 times at 10-day intervals to control aphids.