Plant experts say Chayote disease, preventable 05-11-06

	NORDIS WEEKLY November 6, 2005
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Plant experts say Chayote disease, preventable
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Oct. 25) — Benguet State University’s Julio Ligat underscored that while the chayote mosaic tymo-virus is not curable, the disease which has afflicted Benguet’s chayote (Sechium edule), or sayote, is preventable. Appearing before the media with other BSU personalities and tourism officials here, Ligat enumerated a number of ways by which farmers could prevent the spread of the virus in a Kapihan forum here. Among these, Ligat advises farmers to use river sand as a fruit-bedding medium. “Maagasan ti darat ti virus,” (Sand will cure the virus) he said. Aside from this, the vine should be planted under a canopy of alnus species of trees. Alnus is known to have nitrogen-fixing properties that help the soil regain its natural fertility, thus making chayote healthier. Proper sanitation or clean culture, adds Ligat, also helps prevent the growth of the virus. Some Benguet plantations practice leaf pruning to enhance fruit production. Aside from removing mature leaves, the dead vines and leaves may be removed occasionally to prevent diseases, Ligat said. Control of insects as aphids will prevent the disease from being spread to other plantations. Aphids, like bees, fly from one plantation to the other that they tend to spread the virus from one plantation to the other. Ligat, however, did not elaborate how to the control should be done. Like mosquitoes, aphids suck the liquid from its prey and spits that it spreads the virus. Luckily, a certain type of fungus, says Ligat, can now control aphids by pricking on it. Strict quarantine of infected fruits will also prevent the spread of the virus that experts advise farmers not to bring infected fruits to other areas for planting. To discern whether the fruit is disease laden, the fruit has a yellowish spot. The plant may produce smaller leaves and finer stems, like that of the ampalaya, thus, the local term agparparya (looking like an ampalaya). Some signs may be manifested by curling of the leaves as if there were squash leaves or agkarkarabasa (appearing like a squash). Field experts, however attest that the chayote virus does not affect the palatability of the fruit vegetable nor does it affect the health of humans and animals. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS
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	NORDIS WEEKLY November 6, 2005
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Plant experts say Chayote disease, preventable
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Oct. 25) — Benguet State University’s Julio Ligat underscored that while the chayote mosaic tymo-virus is not curable, the disease which has afflicted Benguet’s chayote (Sechium edule), or sayote, is preventable. Appearing before the media with other BSU personalities and tourism officials here, Ligat enumerated a number of ways by which farmers could prevent the spread of the virus in a Kapihan forum here. Among these, Ligat advises farmers to use river sand as a fruit-bedding medium. “Maagasan ti darat ti virus,” (Sand will cure the virus) he said. Aside from this, the vine should be planted under a canopy of alnus species of trees. Alnus is known to have nitrogen-fixing properties that help the soil regain its natural fertility, thus making chayote healthier. Proper sanitation or clean culture, adds Ligat, also helps prevent the growth of the virus. Some Benguet plantations practice leaf pruning to enhance fruit production. Aside from removing mature leaves, the dead vines and leaves may be removed occasionally to prevent diseases, Ligat said. Control of insects as aphids will prevent the disease from being spread to other plantations. Aphids, like bees, fly from one plantation to the other that they tend to spread the virus from one plantation to the other. Ligat, however, did not elaborate how to the control should be done. Like mosquitoes, aphids suck the liquid from its prey and spits that it spreads the virus. Luckily, a certain type of fungus, says Ligat, can now control aphids by pricking on it. Strict quarantine of infected fruits will also prevent the spread of the virus that experts advise farmers not to bring infected fruits to other areas for planting. To discern whether the fruit is disease laden, the fruit has a yellowish spot. The plant may produce smaller leaves and finer stems, like that of the ampalaya, thus, the local term agparparya (looking like an ampalaya). Some signs may be manifested by curling of the leaves as if there were squash leaves or agkarkarabasa (appearing like a squash). Field experts, however attest that the chayote virus does not affect the palatability of the fruit vegetable nor does it affect the health of humans and animals. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS
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