Strategies for controlling cassava mosaic virus disease in Africa

• Published in: Plant pathology Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 587 - 614
• Main Authors: Thresh, J.M, Cooter, R.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.10.2005; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aleyrodidae; Begomovirus; Bemisia tabaci; Biological and medical sciences; cassava; Cassava mosaic disease; Control; cultural control; disease control; disease resistance; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geminiviridae; host plants; insect vectors; insecticides; literature reviews; Manihot esculenta; mild‐strain protection; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; phytosanitation; plant viruses; Plant viruses and viroids; Protozoa. Invertebrates; resistant varieties; whitefly vector; Africa; Plant pathology; Insecticide; resistant varieties; Plant pathogen; Insecta; Cross protection; Begomovirus; phytosanitation; Homoptera; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Euphorbiaceae; Geminiviridae; insecticides; DNA virus; Vector; Cultural control; mild-strain protection; Manihot esculenta; Pesticides; Pest and disease control; Tropical crop; Infection; Virus; Sensitivity resistance; Vegetable crop; Arthropoda; Bemisia tabaci; Viral disease; Strategy; whitefly vector; Aleyrodidae; Spermatophyta; Tuber plant; Invertebrata; Variety; Cassava
• ISSN: 0032-0862; 1365-3059
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2005.01282.x

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is caused by whiteflyborne viruses of the genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae). The disease has long been regarded as the most important of those affecting cassava in sub‐Saharan Africa, and has been the subject of much research, especially since the onset of the current very damaging pandemic in eastern and central Africa. This review considers the main features of CMD and the various possible means of control. The main emphasis to date has been on the development and deployment of virus‐resistant varieties. These are widely adopted in countries where CMD has caused serious problems, and provided a powerful incentive for farmers to abandon some of the most susceptible of their traditional varieties. Only limited use has been made of phytosanitation involving CMD‐free planting material and the removal (roguing) of diseased plants. Cultural methods of control using varietal mixtures, intercrops or other cropping practices have also been neglected, and there is a need for much additional research before they can be deployed effectively. Nevertheless, the severe losses now being caused by CMD in many parts of sub‐Saharan Africa could be greatly decreased through the application of existing knowledge.