August 2007. An unidentified papaya disease in Sri Lanka. One variety of papaya (purple petioles) showed apical necrosis, among several varieties grown in the same field. Initially, uppermost leaves wilt with marginal necrosis, fall, leaving the bare trunk, which later dies. Brown spots and brown ringspots develop on fruits of affected plants.

Tests for Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV) by ELISA (Agdia chemicals) were negative. In addition, no fungal or bacterial pathogens were detected. Application of fungicides failed against this disease.

An Internet survey of diseases found that symptoms were somewhat similar to Papaya Droopy Necrosis and Papaya Apical Necrosis Viruses.

The CABI Global Plant Clinic kindly offered to look at samples.