Elimination of mosaic disease caused by potyvirus and fabavirus on patchouli using synthetic antiviral

¹ Indonesian Center Research for Estate Crops, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong Science Center, Jl. Raya Jakarta – Bogor, Cibinong, Bogor ( 16915), Indonesia
² Indonesian Center Research for Horticultura Crops, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong Science Center, Jl. Raya Jakarta – Bogor, Cibinong, Bogor ( 16915), Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: sukamto@brin.go.id

Abstract

Patchouli growers in Indonesia were constrained by detrimentally systemic diseases caused by viruses. Potyvirus and Fabavirus were pathogenic viruses that commonly found in several production centers. Virus elimination for retaining healthy protocols was investigated and one of the promising methods through mersitem culture and antiviral treatments. The research was conducted to find out the effects of ribavirin treatments following meristem culture on the existence of Potyvirus and Fabavirus on the infected patchouli plants. The research was conducted at The Indonesian Spices and Medicinal Research Institute from September 2018 to August 2019. A factorial experiment with 10 replications established to facilitate the combination of two factors. The first factor was two commercial patchouli cultivars, namely Patchoulina 1 and Patchoulina 2. While the second factor dealt with the concentration of ribavirin i.e. 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ppm. The results showed that the potyvirus was still detected based on ELISA analysis after the treatments of meristem culture and ribavirin in any concentrations. However, the application ribavirin at 20 ppm following meristem culture effectively eliminated fabavirus form both the tested patchouli cultivars. These partial virus elimination within the plantlet gave significant growth improvement on plantlet height, number of leaves and number of auxiliary shoots after 8 weeks subculture.