The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has detected new and uncommon virus-like symptoms on okra farms, resulting in up to 70 percent loss of plants. This has been reported in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos (South West), and Niger states.
The management of NIHORT made this known through a press statement made available to the public, noting that visitation of the NIHORT team to okra farms revealed an unusual symptom in okra consisting of leaf curl associated with outgrowths, distinct from the usual leaf curl and/or vein yellowing symptoms known with virus-infected okra plants.
The institute stated that the affected farms contain a high population of aphids and leafhoppers, followed by warty and rough-textured leaves with leaves curling upwards, adding that affected plants show a twisting of the necrotic leaves, becoming thick and leathery.
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The management explained that curling and enations were more prevalent on leaves that developed soon after infection than in later leaves, and okra plants were severely stunted with small fruits that were mostly deformed, which made them unfit for marketing.
The statement pointed out that work is ongoing by the institute to develop a sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) package to curtail the outbreak in view of the devastating and negative economic impact on okra farmers nationwide.
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“NIHORT feels it is expedient to keep farmers abreast of this development and the associated symptoms of this new virus attack, especially the farmers that have yet to experience the occurrence of these insect pests.
“Meanwhile, the palliative or interim control measure that could be adopted to contain these evasive vectors is spraying the okra farm(s) with synthetic insecticide at 20 ml/15 lt of water weekly under severe infestations,” the statement said.
