Introduction: A century of plant virology in India

Abstract

Plant viruses are important constraints in Indian Agriculture. There are as many as 168 plant virus species documented in India. The viruses belonging to the genera, Babuvirus, Badnavirus, Begomovirus, Closterovirus, Cucumovirus, Emaravirus, Ilarvirus, Luteovirus, Macluravirus, Polerovirus, Potyvirus and Tospovirus, are economically important. The insects, aphid, thrips and whitefly are the important vectors in India. Virus diseases are more problematic in vegetable pulse and fiber crops. The investigation of plant viruses began in India a few years after the discovery of virus. Plant Virology in India has a long and remarkable history. In this book, we bring out the research findings on plant viruses that were carried out in India during the past more than 100 years. The book contains 31 chapters of which 20 are dealt with the characterization of the viruses belonging to 22 genera, one chapter is on viroids, three chapters are on virus vectors, two on diagnosis and four on management of the viruses.