Peanut stripe

In some cases, the infection manifests as light green or yellowish mottling, which may eventually spread across the entire leaf surface.

Susceptible peanut varieties often exhibit stunted growth, accompanied by leaf deformation and shortening of the stem internodes.

When infection occurs early, the plants lag significantly in development, which is easily noticeable when compared to healthy neighboring plants in the field.

Symptomatology can vary depending on the specific virus strain and host variety, occasionally making visual diagnosis challenging in the field.

The causative agent of the disease is the Peanut stripe virus (PStV), which belongs to the Potyvirus genus.

The virus particles are rod-shaped and contain a single-stranded RNA genome, characteristic of this plant pathogen group.

Field transmission occurs primarily through a non-persistent mechanism involving insect vectors, specifically various species of aphids.

The virus can also be seed-borne, making the use of high-quality, certified seeds a critical factor in disease management.

Mechanical transmission is possible through contact with infected plants or by using contaminated tools during routine agricultural operations.

Active spread of the disease occurs during periods of high aphid populations, which act as the main vectors for the virus.

Warm and humid weather conditions favor the rapid reproduction of vectors, which often leads to outbreaks within peanut crops.

The presence of weeds along field borders provides a reservoir for the virus and its vectors during the off-season.

Planting seeds harvested from infected areas is the primary cause of introducing the infection to new territories.

Planting dates can affect the severity of the infection: if the peak flight of aphids coincides with early growth stages of the peanut, the risk of epiphytotic spread increases significantly.

The disease causes a substantial reduction in both the weight and quality of the harvest, directly impacting the economic viability of the crop.

Viral infection leads to a decrease in the number of pods and the size of individual kernels, often rendering the yield unmarketable.

Disruption of physiological processes reduces oil and protein content in peanut kernels, which is critical for the food industry.

Severely infected plants may produce shriveled seeds that serve as a source of inoculum for subsequent planting seasons.

Under heavy infection pressure, total field productivity can decrease by 20–50%, depending on the strain and timing of the infection.

The primary control strategy is the use of certified, virus-free seed stocks to prevent the primary introduction of the pathogen.

Regular weed management is essential, as weeds can act as natural reservoirs for the Peanut stripe virus.

Controlling aphid populations using targeted insecticides helps reduce the rate of virus transmission within the crop throughout the growing season.

Maintaining spatial isolation between new peanut fields and older, potentially infected areas significantly lowers the risk of vector migration.

• Utilize virus-resistant peanut cultivars.
• Maintain spatial isolation between fields.
• Manage weed populations around fields.
• Control aphid vector populations.
• Use certified virus-free seeds.