Posted on: Friday, April 12, 2002

Papaya virus spreading on Maui

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Test results have confirmed the discovery of the papaya ringspot virus in Wailuku, and agriculture officials yesterday said the outbreak appears to be more widespread.

After a Wailuku homeowner reported a case last week, state agricultural employees found what appears to be infected papayas in Waikapu, Kihei, Pukalani and Makawao.

Papaya ringspot virus causes poor quality, blemished papaya fruit and eventually kills the plant. The disease is transmitted by aphids, and there is no cure.

Agriculture officials are recommending that infected papaya trees be destroyed.

In 1994, the virus devastated the commercial papaya industry on the Big Island, where about 90 percent of the state's papayas are grown. Agricultural researchers developed genetically modified papayas that are resistant to the virus, and Big Island farmers have been using those varieties. The University College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources also plans to make the disease-resistant varieties available on Maui. The virus is widely established on O'ahu.

The state Department of Agriculture plans a quarantine on papaya plants taken from Maui to Kaua'i, Moloka'i and Lana'i, the only islands not known to have the virus. Papaya fruit and seeds may be transported, however.

Call the Department of Agriculture office in Kahului at 873-3555 or the UH Maui extension office at 244-3242. Specialists will answer questions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.