The Progress of Research on Cucumoviruses in India

The genus Cucumovirus of the family Bromoviridae contains only three virus species of which Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Tomato aspermy virus (TAV) are known to occur in India. The research work on CMV and TAV causing numerous diseases in vegetables, pulses, ornamentals, medicinal and aromatic plants and weeds, which were reported in India during last 65 years (1951–2015) have been summarized in this chapter. Biological, biochemical, serological, and molecular characterization of CMV and TAV, the mode of spread of the diseases in nature through insect vectors, search of alternate hosts/reservoirs and diagnostics methods for sensitive detection of the virus/es at an early stage of infection in plants and in propagating materials are discussed.