Whitefly Transmitted begomovirus in China Rose: a Threat to the Beauty

China rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is an important perennial shrub growing almost in entire country for its beautiful flowers and foliage. Hardly there would any garden which will not have the shrub. The shrub is also grown in the house, road side, hotels, etc. Apart from the aesthetic value, the flowers are also used for the worship of lord Ganesha in Hindu mythology. The plant is generally hardy and resistant to various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, a viral disease causing vein thickening, vein banding and leaf curling has been observed from the several places. Affected plants remain stunted and bear few flowers of less significance. The disease is such a prominent that around 90 per cent plant in and around the campus of Navsari Agricultural University was found affected with the virus. DNA of the infected plant was isolated by the modified CTAB method and genome of the virus was subjected to amplification. Study revealed the presence of DNA-A molecule of begomovirus. An approximately 500 to 700 bp DNA-A molecule was amplified by the different degenerate begomovirus primers amplifying the different segments of the DNA-A molecule of the virus. The disease is transmitted by the whitefly.