Resumo

AROCHA, Y et al. UNVEILING THE AETIOLOGY OF PAPAYA DISEASES IN CUBA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) AND ETHIPIA. Rev. Protección Veg. [online]. 2008, vol.23, n.1, pp. 21-25. ISSN 2224-4697.

Papaya is amongst the most common fruits grown in Ethiopia and it is being affected by a decline disorder recently reported as causing yield losses over 30% in the major farms. In North Kivu, DRC, papaya is the major cash crop grown for latex, which is exported to Europe for papaine production. Since 1997, a disease has been gradually spread and seriously affected the papaya crop and latex yields. In Cuba, papaya has become one of the most important export crops, mainly for the Canadian and European markets. Recently, a papaya bunchy top like disease (PBT-like) has been associated with the 16SrII phytoplasma group, Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia, in the east of Cuba; however, there is no information about the situation of the disease throughout the country. On the other hand, it is required to know the pathogens associated with papaya diseases in Ethiopia and DRC. During 2005-06, leaf samples, including from healthy plants, were collected from symptom papaya plantations surveyed in the three countries and they were tested for rickettsias, papaya ringspot virus and phytoplasmas, which have been the most common plant pathogens associated with papaya diseases worldwide. Total DNA and RNA were extracted and indexed by PCR assays and sequencing of target genes. A 16SrII phytoplasma was identified in more than 95 % of the samples affected with PBT-like in Cuba and the decline disorder in Ethiopia, while a Moroccan Watermelon Mosaic Virus (MWMV) isolate (Potyviridae family) was associated with the papaya disease in DRC.

Palavras-chave : papaya; phytoplasmas; papaya ringspot virus; potyvirus; watermelon mosaic virus; rickettsias; PCR.

        · resumo em Espanhol     · texto em Espanhol     · Espanhol ( pdf )