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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215986
Title: Papaya ringspot virus (Potyviridae)

Author
item Gonsalves, Dennis
item SUZUKI, JON - UNIV OF HI
item TRIPATHI, SAVARNI - UNIV OF HI
item FERREIRA, STEPHEN - UNIV OF HI

Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Virology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/13/2007
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Gonsalves, D., Suzuki, J.Y., Tripathi, S., Ferreira, S. 2008. Papaya ringspot virus (Potyviridae). Encyclopedia of Virology, 5 vols, 3rd Edition, vol. 4, p. 1-8. Edited by B. Mahy & M. VanRegenmortel. Oxford:Elsevier.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Papaya ringspot virus, a member of the family Potyviridae, is single stranded RNA plant virus with a monocistronic genome of about 10,326 nucleotides that is expressed via a large polyprotein subsequently cleaved into functional proteins. It causes severe damage on cucurbit crops such as squash and melons, and worldwide damage on papaya, a widely grown tropical fruit crop. Leaves of infected plants show mosaic symptoms and are often distorted and shoestring in shape, and infected plants are stunted. Fruit from infected plants can be malformed and show bumps, and infected papaya fruit often show ringspot symptoms, from which the name is derived. Papaya ringspot virus is grouped into type P or type W biotypes based on their host range. The P biotype infects cucurbits and papaya, while the W biotype infects only cucurbits. The virus is transmitted in a nonpersistent manner by a number of aphid species. Genetically engineered papaya expressing the coat protein gene of papaya ringspot virus are resistant to the virus and are used commercially in Hawaii, one of only two cases for using commercial transgenic virus-resistant crops in the U.S.