Control of Plant Viruses
1. Quarantine Laws:
The best way to control virus disease is to keep it out of an area through a system of quarantine, inspections and certifications.
2. Selection of Seed:
Select seed from disease free localities.
3. Selection of Planting Materials:
i. e Cutting, bull, rhizomes, tubers etc should be free from disease.
4. Eradication:
Eradication of diseased plant to eliminate the inoculum from the field.
5. Indexing:
Periodical indexing of the mother plants, producing Propagative organs is necessary to ascertain these continuous freedom from virus.
6. Protection Against Insect Vectors:
This can be done by growing trap crops to check the insect vectors. Ex. Cotton reddening, white flies in bhendi.
7. Soil Fumigation:
Nematodes transmitted viruses can be reduced by the soil fumigation to control nematodes.
8. Weeds:
Removal and destruction of weeds that serve as host, broad leaf weeds in banana, orchard reduce bunchy tops.
9. Use of Resistant Varieties:
Ex. Parbhani Kranti, yellow vein mosaic of the bhendi, sugarcane mosaic.
10. Immunization:
The disease caused by severe strains of virus can be avoided if the plants are inoculated first with a mild strain of some viruses. E.g. Citrus greening.
11. Temperature Treatment:
Sugarcane mosaic can be destroyed or reduce by hot water treatment 520 C for 30 minutes.
12. Use of Insecticides:
Control of insect vector with the use of insecticides.
13. Non Availability of Chemical Substances: (Demerits)
No chemical substance (Viroides) are yet available for controlling virus disease of plants in the field.