A NEW APPROACH TO CROSS PROTECTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL OF PASSION FRUIT WOODINESS DISEASE

Abstract

Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) is a tropical plant with different species cultivated in Brazil and worldwide. However, passion fruit production is constantly threatened by several factors, including viruses. The potyvirus cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) is the most important and responsible for the fruit woodiness disease. There are no effective measures to control this disease to date. Given this fact and the robust results of the efficient use of mixtures of mild strains to control tomato mosaic caused by pepino mosaic virus in Europe, it is opportune to return to the problem that severely affects passion fruit production in Brazil with a new approach to evaluation protection with mild strains of the virus. Initially, the genetic and biological variability of CABMV isolates from different geographic regions of Brazil that cultivate this fruit will be studied. Subsequently, attempts will be made to isolate mild strains from the available isolates using biological methods. Finally, the protection of passion fruit plants will be evaluated when inoculated with mixtures of mild strains of the virus obtained under greenhouse conditions and later in the field.