An overview of Potyviruses infecting daffodil and their disease management

Abstract

Daffodil (Narcissus tazetta L.) is a bulbous ornamental plant which belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. It is popular for sweet-smelling beautiful flowers and is used for the fragrant oil and perfumes. It is also a source of alkaloids used in traditional medicines. Daffodil is commercially important ornamental plant, therefore, it is important to maintain its quality and production. Various type of viruses affect daffodil cultivation and among them, potyviruses are of great concern as they cause more economic losses to its commercial cultivation in term of reduction in bulb size, number of bulbs and the quality of daffodil flowers. In this review, a general overview of daffodils, genus Potyvirus, disease symptoms in daffodils linked to potyvirus infection, potyviruses described in daffodils, Potyvirus identification methods and possible management strategies of potyviruses in daffodil cultivation are described in detail. The study will be helpful to daffodil growers for improvement of the production/yield and quality of daffodil crop.