1. Stem disease symptoms
(i) The symptoms of the disease appear within 30-40 weeks
(ii) Diseased plants are stunted.
(iii) Dark green scaly spots appear on the stem.
(iv) Growth is stunted when young plants become diseased.
(v) Cracks are seen in the tree when disease incidence is high.
(vi) In the extreme stage of the disease the plant rots and dies.
2. Leaf disease symptoms
(i) Disease symptoms first appear on relatively young leaves.
(ii) Chlorosis occurs in leaves. The leaves are yellow in color.
(iii) Leaves are shriveled, small and deformed.
(iv) Diseased leaves show a greenish-yellow pattern.
(v) Round water-soaked spots are seen at the base of petioles.
(vi) Ring spots and distortion ring spots (mosaic) are seen on leaves.
(vii) Volume of diseased leaves decreases.
(viii) If the attack is severe, some small, deformed leaves can be observed on the plant head. Sometimes leaves have only veins.
3. As a result, the symptoms of the disease
(i) Resulting in circular spots or rings of dark green colour.
(ii) Water-soaked spherical spots form on the fruit and the space between the spots becomes hard.
(iii) Swollen areas are seen in diseased fruits.
(iv) When the fruit matures or turns yellow, the spots become indistinct.
(v) Sweetness and papain decrease in papaya.
(vi) Diseased fruits become smaller and drop off.
(vii) Young plants never bear fruit if diseased.
(viii) The tree does not bear fruit and the yield is reduced by 90%.