"Namamarako": a new disease syndrome in ampalaya (Momordica charantia) caused by an unknown pathogen

Issue Date

10-2003

Abstract

In recent years, "namamarako" has become a serious production constraint in ampalaya. Plants affected with "namamarako" produce mainly male flowers (hence the term namamarako) the leaves become thicker with veins banding and shiny, giving them a plastic appearance. Depending on the severity, plants could become stunted and bear hardly any female flower. The syndrome was first observed sometime in 1996 and now common in many ampalaya-producing areas particularly in La Union, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Quezon and Cavite [Philippines]. In an attempt to determine the possible cause and minimize or reduce disease incidence, several studies were conducted to determine whether the syndrome has a physiological cause, soil-borne or due to a parasitic agent. Infected samples were also sent to local and foreign research institutes to get independent diagnosis of the possible cause. Preliminary results showed some partial recovery of infected plants with improved cultural management practices (e.g. boron supplementation, use of plastic mulch, etc.), however, the physiological cause is not yet fully established and remains only a possibility. The possibility of soil-borne transmission was also eliminated and so far, seed transmission was not observed. Likewise, ELISA tests did not positively detected any commonly known virus infecting cucurbits. Preliminary pathological studies on transmission indicated that the syndrome is difficult to transmit mechanically. To date, no conclusion can be made yet as to the etiology of the pathogen. Further experiments will be undertaken to prove or disprove the hypothesis that the syndrome is caused by a pathogen.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

17

Issue

2

Page

193-194

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

MOMORDICA CHARANTIA; PLANT DISEASES; PATHOGENS; DISEASE TRANSMISSION; MORBIDITY; ELISA; PHILIPPINES

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