Articles
Understanding the root causes: improving carrot virus management in the United Kingdom
Article number
1393_11
Pages
83 – 90
Language
English
Abstract
Carrot viruses are a major constraint on carrot production as they can cause reduction in yield, growth defects and necrosis.
Understanding the epidemiology of viral diseases is key to formulating effective virus management strategies.
Viruses infecting carrots in the UK (UK) include carrot red leaf virus (CtRLV) and carrot necrotic dieback virus (CNDBV). In the early 2000s, and into the 2010s, research indicated that CNDBV isolates were spill over from the weed Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm.
However, different populations of CtRLV were circulating within carrots or within weed populations.
Whilst investigating the causes of carrot root necrosis using a non-targeted genetic sequencing approach, the symptom was linked to a historically reported virus (carrot yellow leaf virus, CYLV). Several other novel viruses were reported and some of these, such as carrot toraodvirus-1, were detected from carrot crops but were not found in weed hosts.
Investigations have been ongoing to identify a baseline for the presence of these viruses in carrots and associated field weeds, and also to investigate the relative importance of different aphid species with regard to transmission of the viruses, to formulate improved strategies for managing viruses affecting carrot crops.
These investigations show strong associations in virus populations between some weed hosts and carrots.
The willow-carrot aphid (Cavariella aegopodii Scopoli) appears to be the main vector of concern for early season spread of carrot red leaf virus, and strategies focused on early season vector control may have a greater impact on crop health than less-focused season-long approaches.
Understanding the epidemiology of viral diseases is key to formulating effective virus management strategies.
Viruses infecting carrots in the UK (UK) include carrot red leaf virus (CtRLV) and carrot necrotic dieback virus (CNDBV). In the early 2000s, and into the 2010s, research indicated that CNDBV isolates were spill over from the weed Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm.
However, different populations of CtRLV were circulating within carrots or within weed populations.
Whilst investigating the causes of carrot root necrosis using a non-targeted genetic sequencing approach, the symptom was linked to a historically reported virus (carrot yellow leaf virus, CYLV). Several other novel viruses were reported and some of these, such as carrot toraodvirus-1, were detected from carrot crops but were not found in weed hosts.
Investigations have been ongoing to identify a baseline for the presence of these viruses in carrots and associated field weeds, and also to investigate the relative importance of different aphid species with regard to transmission of the viruses, to formulate improved strategies for managing viruses affecting carrot crops.
These investigations show strong associations in virus populations between some weed hosts and carrots.
The willow-carrot aphid (Cavariella aegopodii Scopoli) appears to be the main vector of concern for early season spread of carrot red leaf virus, and strategies focused on early season vector control may have a greater impact on crop health than less-focused season-long approaches.
Authors
A. Fox, A. Jukes, M. Mynett, A. Fowkes, I. Vazquez Iglesias, R.H. Collier
Keywords
carrot, virus, aphid, transmission, epidemiology
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