In Vietnam, passionfruit has become a major crop in many regions of the country such as the Central Highlands, Nghe An, Son La provinces. Passion fruit plantation area in Vietnam rapidly increased to 10,000 ha in 2019. However, the occurrence of passionfruit diseases caused by viruses has become a serious limiting factor in its production. In Vietnam, six viruses infecting passionfruit have been identified. Among these, East Asian Passiflora virus (EAPV) and Passiflora mottle virus (PaMoV), which cause woodiness disease, are considered the most damaging. It affected the quality and yield of passionfruit in the Central Highlands, Son La, and Nghe An, resulting in serious damage to orchards. A total of 270 passionfruit samples collected from Son La, Nghe An province and Central Highlands areas were analyzed using RT-PCR and PCR. The results showed the presence of three potyviruses (EAPV, PaMoV, and Telosma mosaic virus), one cucumovirus (Cucumber mosaic virus), and two begomoviruses (Euphorbia leaf curl virus and Papaya leaf curl Guangdong virus) infecting passionfruit in Vietnam. The field survey also revealed that EAPV and PaMoV are mainly causes of passionfruit woodiness disease in Vietnam with 38 and 56 positive samples, respectively. Mixed infections, such as those involving two strains of EAPV, two potyviruses, or a potyvirus combined with a begomovirus, often generate severe synergistic symptoms. Integrated management strategies, including the use of virus-free seedlings, early detection of symptomatic plants, and strict vector control from planting, can reduce viral disease incidence by more than 70%.
Keywords: passionfruit woodiness disease, East Asian Passiflora virus (EAPV), Passiflora mottle virus (PaMoV), Telosma mosaic virus (TelMV)
In Vietnam, passionfruit has become a major crop in many regions of the country such as the Central Highlands, Nghe An, Son La provinces. Passion fruit plantation area in Vietnam rapidly increased to 10,000 ha in 2019. However, the occurrence of passionfruit diseases caused by viruses has become a serious limiting factor in its production. In Vietnam, six viruses infecting passionfruit have been identified. Among these, East Asian Passiflora virus (EAPV) and Passiflora mottle virus (PaMoV), which cause woodiness disease, are considered the most damaging. It affected the quality and yield of passionfruit in the Central Highlands, Son La, and Nghe An, resulting in serious damage to orchards. A total of 270 passionfruit samples collected from Son La, Nghe An province and Central Highlands areas were analyzed using RT-PCR and PCR. The results showed the presence of three potyviruses (EAPV, PaMoV, and Telosma mosaic virus), one cucumovirus (Cucumber mosaic virus), and two begomoviruses (Euphorbia leaf curl virus and Papaya leaf curl Guangdong virus) infecting passionfruit in Vietnam. The field survey also revealed that EAPV and PaMoV are mainly causes of passionfruit woodiness disease in Vietnam with 38 and 56 positive samples, respectively. Mixed infections, such as those involving two strains of EAPV, two potyviruses, or a potyvirus combined with a begomovirus, often generate severe synergistic symptoms. Integrated management strategies, including the use of virus-free seedlings, early detection of symptomatic plants, and strict vector control from planting, can reduce viral disease incidence by more than 70%.
Keywords: passionfruit woodiness disease, East Asian Passiflora virus (EAPV), Passiflora mottle virus (PaMoV), Telosma mosaic virus (TelMV)