Incidence and Distribution of Papaya Viruses in Southern Florida. Shu- Hui Wan, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611. Robert A. Conover, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL 33031. Plant Dis. 67:353-356. Accepted for publication 21 August 1982. Copyright 1983 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-353.

Surveys of papaya (Carica papaya) showed that papaya ringspot virus (PRV) was widely distributed in three counties of southern Florida. Incidence of PRV ranged from 0 to 100% in 30 plantings in Dade, Monroe, and Sarasota counties. In Dade County, the only county where papaya is grown commercially, 14 of 20 fields showed 100% PRV infection. In Monroe County, PRV infection of domestic plants averaged 64%, and in Sarasota County, only 14% of the domestic plants examined were infected. Papaya droopy necrosis virus (DNV) was also observed in Dade, Monroe, and Sarasota counties; incidence of DNV ranged from 0 to 22.2%. Neither PRV nor DNV was observed in Broward, Manatee, Charlotte, or Lee counties. Papaya mosaic virus and papaya bunchy top were not observed during the surveys.