Telosma mosaic virus: An emerging plant RNA virus causing production loss in passion fruit across Asia

Abstract

AbstractTelosma mosaic virus (TeMV) is a highly infectious and rapidly spreading virus that infects a variety of natural hosts, with passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) being its primary host across parts of Asia. Symptoms of TeMV, which seriously threatens passion fruit production worldwide, include mosaic, deformities and lignification of fruit. We present here a review of the current state of knowledge of TeMV, including its structural characteristics, natural and experimental host range, symptoms and detection, and provide insights into control strategies. The mode of transmission of TeMV remains unclear, but it can be mechanically transmitted through grafting, cuttings and other artificial asexual propagation techniques, which unfortunately constitute the primary means of propagation in the passion fruit industry. Moreover, increasing detection rates of TeMV indicate that this virus probably causes more serious losses to the passion fruit industry than previously reported. No systematic control strategy for TeMV infection currently exists, and no TeMV‐resistant passion fruit varieties are currently available. As a speedy, short‐term solution for dealing with TeMV infection in the absence of a long‐term solution, we propose rapid plant propagation through virus‐free plant tissue culture techniques that can generate a substantial number of virus‐free passion fruit seedlings.