Evaluation of susceptibility of cassava germplasm to cassava mosaic disease

Abstract

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) caused by geminiviruses is one of the important diseases of cassava Manihot esculenta Crantz causing severe yield loss. Use of resistant varieties is the most feasible measure to manage virus diseases. Eleven germplasms of cassava including Kirikavadi, MU51 and CARI 555 that are recommended and released for cultivation by the Department of Agriculture (DOA) were evaluated for their susceptibility to cassava mosaic disease. Pot experiments were carried out in a planthouse at 30 ± 3 °C. Twenty replicates from each germplasm were inoculated by wedge grafting method and were examined for symptoms of CMD. The germplasms WA/KK/10 and 555/KK/2 were highly resistant to CMD infection as assessed by percentage infection and by Triple Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (TAS ELISA) tests. All other types (HORDI 28, HORDI 6,CARI 555, MU51, Kirikawadi, BW1, BW2,Wariyapola, and Wagolla) were susceptible to varying degrees. Among the germplasms tested HORDI 6 was highly susceptible to CMD.