Abstract:
A survey was conducted in Maiduguri during the 2016 cropping season to identify the serotypes
and distribution of Okra Leaf Curl Disease on okra plants to cover 30 major okra growing areas
in Maiduguri. The confirmation of serotypes of the virus was done using African cassava mosaic
virus (ACMV) and Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) antibodies obtained from Deutche
Sammlang von Mikroorganism and Zeckulturan (DSMZ) Brauschweig, Germany. The reactivity
of 30 different OLCV isolates after tests with antisera with TAS ELISA distinguished four
serological profiles; those showed positive reaction with the two antisera were designated as
serotype SRP A, the second serological profile included isolates that showed positive reaction
with only TYLCV antisera, and were designated as serotypes SRP B, the third serological profile
was isolate which showed positive reaction with only ACMV antisera and were designated as
serotype C. The fourth serological profile included those isolates which had negative reaction
with the two antisera (TYLCV and ACMV), and were designated as serotype SRP D. Based on
the results of the study, various serotypes exists and begomovirus occurring on tomato and
cassava in neighboring farms also infects okra in Maiduguri. Such information could eventually
be utilized in the development of integrated begomovirus management packages in crop rotation,
inter cropping and insect vector control. Further new trend of other possible management
solutions for begomovirus which are worth trying in developing countries like Nigeria such as
knowledge of these serotypes of the virus to provide a sound basis for understanding the present
status, distribution and mixed infection structure of begomoviruses in its different hosts across
the important okra and other vegetables growing areas in Nigeria. |
