18^th International Virology Summit

Plant Virology

Plant viruses are wide spread and economically important plant pathogens. The morphology, genome structure, reproduction strategy of different types of plant viruses, which together form the basis of virus classification. Plant viruses consist of a nucleoprotein in that multiplies only in the living cells of a host .The presence of viruses in host cells often results in disease, 400 or more viruses are known to attack plants .

The first record of a disease that was later found to be caused by a plant virus was on tulips in the 17^th century in the Netherlands. First experimental demonstration of the infections nature of viral disease was recorded by Lawrence, who described the  transmission of a disease of jasmine by grafting. The ultimate goal in plant virus disease control is therefore to prevent virus spread by either controlling the vectors or through the eradication of infected plants. To protect the interest of farmers, the agricultural industry, as well as national and international trade, it is important that nurseries and tissue culture laboratories provide healthy virus free propagation material. Plants such as mother plants, seedlings and sometimes seed used as propagation material should be tested for viruses before it is supplied to farmers or other nurseries.