Phytopathology (2015) 105, 956-965

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George Mahuku, Benham E. Lockhart, Bramwel Wanjala, Mark W. Jones, Janet Njeri Kimunye, Lucy R. Stewart, Bryan J. Cassone, Subramanian Sevgan, Johnson O. Nyasani, Elizabeth Kusia, P. Lava Kumar, C.L. Niblett, Andrew Kiggundu, Godfrey Asea, Hanu R. Pappu, Anne Wangai, Boddupalli M. Prasanna and Margaret G. Redinbaugh (2015)
Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), an emerging threat to maize-based food security in sub-Saharan Africa
Phytopathology 105 (7), 956-965
Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, maize is a staple food and key determinant of food security for smallholder farming communities. Pest and disease outbreaks are key constraints to maize productivity. In September 2011, a serious disease outbreak, later diagnosed as maize lethal necrosis (MLN), was reported on maize in Kenya. The disease has since been confirmed in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and similar symptoms have been reported in Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. In 2012, yield losses of up to 90% resulted in an estimated grain loss of 126,000 metric tons valued at $52 million in Kenya alone. In eastern Africa, MLN was found to result from coinfection of maize with Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), although MCMV alone appears to cause significant crop losses. We summarize here the results of collaborative research undertaken to understand the biology and epidemiology of MLN in East Africa and to develop disease management strategies, including identification of MLN-tolerant maize germplasm. We discuss recent progress, identify major issues requiring further research, and discuss the possible next steps for effective management of MLN.
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Link to article at publishers website

Database assignments for author(s): George S. Mahuku, Hanu R. Pappu, P. Lava Kumar, Margaret G. Redinbaugh, Ben Lockhart

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
review

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sugarcane mosaic virus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Kenya
	Machlomovirus zeae	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Kenya