Plant Viruses in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Pakistan: Potential Future Research Direction

Abstract

Potato is becoming the most economically important crop in GB because its production is expanding more rapidly than that of most other crops primarily because it generates hugh incomes to the farming community. The disease resistant potato cultivars were replaced by the high yielding varieties, consequently the potato crops has become vulnerable to numerous diseases. Among the diseases viral diseases may play a major role in reducing the yield of potato crops. There are no proper regulatory policies intended to prevent introduction of plant viruses, introduction has still occurred through the potato tubers from the other provinces of Pakistan. Furthermore, the vectors such as aphid’s population have increased. These plant viruses have considerable effects on potato crops range from mere curling and chlorosis of leaves to demise of entire potato crops from the fields. These plant viruses may be major yield limiting factor and therefore there is need to identify the viruses on farms and to determine the severity as well as their impacts on potato yield. Theses plant viruses are major future threats to GB’s food security. There are no wellestablished plant pathology laboratories as a result their identification and estimation of losses to potato crops, they pose still remain a challenge. In conclusion, the viruses are the future constraints to food security in GB, this review paper uses some plant viruses as a case study to illustrate their key influences on the yield of potato crop.