SPCSV is transmitted by the whitefly especially Bemisia tabaci, as they fly from plant to plant by feeding up the plant sap to cause many plants become infected. Whitefly usually is the driving force behind the spread of SPVD. Once a virus enters a plant cells, it will take over part of the management of the cell’s processes. These new virus particles will then spread to adjacent cells, increases the permeability of plasmodesmata to virus particles resulting accumulation of carbohydrates and decreasing of photosynthesis rate in the leaves. The common virus symptom in sweet potato is chlorosis of the leaf tissue either between the leaf veins or along the veins. The leaves could be misshapen with an uneven or curled appearance. Pigmented leaves, often purple or yellow spots or rings could also be observed. Moreover, virus infection will affect the yield quality of sweet potato and reduce its storage roots production and volume of harvest. It is inevitable that infected sweet potato multiplied on grower’s farm over several seasons will lead to the reduction of sweet potato grower’s income. It is really important to control the pest vector of sweet potato viruses. To mitigate the effect of virus, farmers normally practice a scheduled spraying of insecticides to control the vector population. However, the use of agricultural chemicals (insecticide) to the target plants would eventually affect the whole site including crop plants, soil organisms, humans and wildlife in that area. As an alternative, much attention has been focused on eco-friendly methods to control the virus and its vector. Generally, virus disease could be managed via immunization and prophylactic measure. Application of repellent companion crop for the management of pest in prophylactic measure is well documented. Plants with pesticidal properties possess compounds that have effects to repel pests. The use of natural plant-derived compounds to manage peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae was highlighted as one of the eco-friendly pest management strategies.
Author(s) Details:
Razean Haireen M. R.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, Malaysia.
Siti Noor Aishikin A. H.,
Agrobiodiversity and Environment Research Centre, Malaysia.
Nur Zainih J. J.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, Malaysia.
Rawaida R.,
Sosio-Economy, Market Intelligence and Agribusiness Research Centre, Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI), MARDI Headquarter, Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Norma H.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, Malaysia.
Nurul Afza K.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, MARDI Stesen Bachok, Kampung Aur, Mukim Telong Jalan Kandis, 16310 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Faizah S. A. R.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, Malaysia.
Mohd Nazri B.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, MARDI Stesen Bachok, Kampung Aur, Mukim Telong Jalan Kandis, 16310 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Anuar A.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, MARDI Stesen Bachok, Kampung Aur, Mukim Telong Jalan Kandis, 16310 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Mohd Aziz R.,
Agrobiodiversity and Environment Research Centre, Malaysia.
Izyani R.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, Malaysia.
Nurul Ain A.,
Industrial Crop Research Centre, Malaysia.
