# Studies on the Differentiation of Transient Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Signals in Papaya Plants Showing Symptoms and Without Symptoms in the Presence of PRSV-P and PMeV Viruses

## TL;DR

This study explores using chlorophyll a fluorescence to detect early signs of viral infection in papaya plants, even before symptoms appear.

## Contribution

The study introduces chlorophyll a fluorescence as a novel, non-invasive method for early detection of PRSV-P and PMeV2 infections in papaya.

## Key findings

- Chlorophyll a fluorescence reveals photosynthetic impairment in infected and asymptomatic papaya plants.
- Electron motive force within PSII decreases proportionally with plant age and infection.
- Redox reaction efficiency in photosystem I declines in infected and asymptomatic plants.

## Abstract

Viral infections represent a critical threat to cultivated plant species. In papaya cultivation, two viral diseases—papaya mosaic (caused by papaya ringspot virus type P—PRSV-P) and papaya sticky disease (caused by a virus complex of papaya meleira virus—PMeV, and papaya meleira virus—PMeV2)—are prevalent and capable of devastating entire plantations, incurring substantial economic losses. Current diagnostic practices rely on visual identification of symptoms and elimination of infected plants (roguing). Monitoring photosynthetic efficiency in orchards prone to PRSV-P and PMeV2 coinfection may allow early intervention, mitigating productivity losses and reducing fruit quality. This study aimed to evaluate chlorophyll a fluorescence as a biomarker for photosynthetic impairment and symptom severity in papaya infected with PRSV-P and/or PMeV2 and to explore the feasibility of early detection of the infection by these dual pathogens, as an exploratory study under field conditions. Chlorophyll a fluorescence revealed details about the physiology of plants coinfected with the complex of PMeV2 and PRSV-P: the electron motive force within PSII decreases in infected plants and in those without visual symptoms of infection, being proportional to the age and developmental stage of the plants. A slowdown in the multiple electron transfer turnover of PSII and a decrease in the efficiency of the redox reactions of photosystem I were observed in plants with or without visual detection of infection. The evidence generated suggests that the chlorophyll a fluorescence technique can be used to monitor the pathophysiological state of plants under biotic stress.