Current Status of Viral and Phytoplasma Diseases Affecting Gerbera Cultivation and Their Management

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) is a popular ornamental plant cultivated all over the world. It is grown in beds, pots and used as cut-flower in making bouquets and for decoration in ceremonial functions. Gerbera has been commercially cultivated by a large number of growers in India as a primary source of income, therefore, has high socioeconomic impact in floriculture industry. The gerbera cultivation areas in India are increasing day by day due to its uses and the market demands. Its cultivation has been hampered by a variety of diseases that affect its flower quality and quantity. Of them, the viral and phytoplasma diseases cause considerable losses in gerbera cultivation. In this review, we have described about the disease symptoms, detection methods and identification of causal virus and phytoplasma pathogens affecting gerbera production worldwide and their disease management strategies opted by the researchers for production of pathogen-free plants.