Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux First Commonwealth Helminthological Meeting

Abstract

Fourteen of the 62 taxonomically characterized viruses known to infect peanuts naturally or under experimental conditions are potyviruses (Sreenivasulu et al. 1991). Peanut stripe potyvirus (PStV) was first noted in 1982 when virus‐like leaf symptoms were observed on peanut in plots in Georgia (USA) that seemed different from those of the endemic peanut mottle potyvirus (Demski and Lovell, 1985). Demski et al. (1984a,b,c) reported it to be a new virus disease of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) characterized by dark green stripes and discontinuous banding along the lateral veins of young leaves and an oakleaf pattern on the older leaves. The virus was detected in germplasm received from China (Demski et al. 1984a,b,c; Demski and Lovell, 1985). PStV is now known to occur in most of the south‐east Asian countries growing groundnut including India (Prasada Rao et al., 1988a). The virus is reported to be seedborne and transmitted by species of aphids. It has assumed considerable quarantine importance throughout the world. Much scientific information has been generated and published on various aspects of PStV, but the information is scattered. This paper reviews research on peanut stripe disease and considers future priorities and control strategies.