Plant Pathology (2020) 69, 585-597

Theodore Asiimwe, Lucy R. Stewart, Kristen Willie, Deogracious P. Massawe, Jovia Kamatenesi and Margaret G. Redinbaugh (2020)
Maize lethal necrosis viruses and other maize viruses in Rwanda
Plant Pathology 69 (3), 585-597
Abstract: Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is emergent in East Africa, first reported in 2011 in Kenya, and is devastating to maize production in the region. MLN is caused by coinfection of maize with the emergent maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and any of several maize-infecting potyviruses endemic in East Africa and worldwide. Here, we examined the distribution of MCMV and sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), the major viruses contributing to MLN in Rwanda. These and other viruses in maize across Rwanda were further characterized by deep sequencing. When identified, MCMV had high titres and minimal sequence variability, whereas SCMV showed moderate titres and high sequence variability. Deep sequencing also identified maize streak virus and other maize-associated viruses, including a previously described polerovirus, maize yellow mosaic virus, and barley yellow dwarf virus, diverse maize-associated totiviruses, maize-associated pteridovirus, Zea mays chrysovirus 1, and a maize-associated betaflexivirus. Detection of each virus was confirmed in maize samples by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
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Database assignments for author(s): Margaret G. Redinbaugh

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

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