Aceria cajani

Viral Disease

Aceria cajani

Viral Disease

Sterility mosaic, often called the "green plague" of redgram, is a serious viral disease caused by a mycoplasma-like organism and transmitted by the eriophyid mite Aceria cajani. This disease significantly impacts redgram cultivation, leading to partial or total yield loss depending on the severity of the infection.

Symptoms

• Color Change: Affected plants become light green, contrasting with the dark green of healthy plants.
• Stunting and Branching: Plants remain stunted and exhibit profuse branching, giving a bushy appearance.
• Leaf Size Reduction: Leaves become smaller than normal.
• Yield Loss: Severely affected plants do not produce flowers or pods, leading to total yield loss. In some cases, only a few branches are affected, resulting in partial yield reductions.

Vector
The disease is transmitted by the eriophyid mite Aceria cajani and is not seed-borne. Effective management involves controlling the vector and using resistant redgram varieties to minimize losses.