Occurrence of Passion Fruit Woodiness Disease in the Coastal Lowlands of Kenya and Screening of Passion Fruit Genotypes for Resistance to Passion Fruit Woodiness Diseas
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Date
2023
Authors
Asande, Lydia K.
Ombori, Omwoyo
Oduo, Richard O.
Nchore, Shem B.
Nyaboga, Evans N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Nature
Abstract
Background Passion fruit (Passifora edulis [Sims]) is an important economic fruit crop in Kenya, grown for domestic, regional and international markets. However, passion fruit production is constrained by both biotic and abiotic
stresses. Passion fruit woodiness disease (PWD) complex is the most injurious viral disease responsible for yield losses
of up to 100%. In East Africa, it is caused by potyviruses. The most efective way to manage PWD is by using resistant
cultivars. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence of passion fruit woodiness disease in selected
counties at the Coastal lowlands of Kenya and screen farmer preferred passion fruit genotypes for resistance to PWD.
Results In the present study, it was established that all surveyed farms in Kwale and Kilif counties displayed passion fruit woodiness virus disease symptoms. The highest disease incidence of 59.16% and 51.43% was observed
at Kilif and Kwale counties, respectively. A signifcant diference (p<0.05) in symptom severity was observed
within the tested genotypes with purple and banana passion fruits having the highest and lowest AUDPC values,
respectively, both under greenhouse and feld conditions. ACP ELISA assays using universal potyvirus antiserum
(Agdia Inc., Elkhat, IN) confrmed that the observed characteristic symptoms of woodiness disease were as a result
of potyvirus infection.
Conclusions The fndings herein indicate that PWD is widespread in both Kilif and Kwale counties with low to moderate disease incidence and severity. The observed prevalence, incidence and severity levels of PWD in Kwale and Kilif
counties could be aggravated by poor management practices such as non-sterilization of pruning tools, intercropping with target crops and crop rotation with the same target crops. Response of passion fruit genotypes to woodiness viruses was genotype dependent. There is need to sensitize farmers on the cause and spread of PWD and management strategies in order to increase production and enhance the quality of fruits.
Description
Article
Keywords
Passifora, Passion fruit woodiness disease, Viruses, Disease resistance
Citation
Asande, L. K., Ombori, O., Oduor, R. O., Nchore, S. B., & Nyaboga, E. N. (2023). Occurrence of passion fruit woodiness disease in the coastal lowlands of Kenya and screening of passion fruit genotypes for resistance to passion fruit woodiness disease. BMC Plant Biology, 23(1), 544.