Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 41: 2746 - 2756. Published May 10, 2011.
Survey and serological detection of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) viruses in Ethiopia
1Tewodros Tesfaye1, 2, Tileye Feyissa1, and Adane Abraham2
1 Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University and 2Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study aimed to assess the recent magnitude of virus diseases attacking sweet potato in the main production areas of the country.
Methodology and results: Ninety seven sweet potato fields were visited in eastern and southern Ethiopia in 2009 and a total of 235 symptomatic and 735 asymptomatic vine cuttings were collected. The vine cuttings were planted in an insect-proof screen house and tested for Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), Sweet potato caulimo-like virus (SPCaLV), Sweet potato mild speckling virus (SPMSV), C-6 ( flexious rod virus), Sweet potato latent virus (SwPLV), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) using Nitrocelullose Membrane ELISA (NCM-ELISA). Observations showed that the average prevalence of virus and virus-like symptom were 15.6% in Wolayita, 12.5% at Awassa (AARC), 10% in Hadiya, 6.3% in Gamo Gofa , 0.15% in Kembata-Tembaro, 0.1% in Sidama and 0.03% in East Hararge. The most prevalent virus was SPFMV (15.1%) followed by SPCSV (12.9 %) and SPVG (4.5 %). Mixed infection of SPFMV + SPCSV was the most common co-infection observed (9.3%) followed by SPVG+SPCSV (3%) of the total samples. Interestingly, no virus was detected in any of the samples obtained from Eastern and Western Hararge zones.
Conclusion and application of findings: This study has provided a quantitative assessment of both single and co-infecting viruses of sweet potato plants in farmer’s fields in Ethiopia, and reveals the importance of selecting resistant varieties and production of virus free planting materials. Moreover, introducing internal quarantine would be important to minimize the virus movement from southern part of the country.
Key words: Sweet Potato, NCM-ELISA, Incidence, Virus, Single Infection, Mixed Infection
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