Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is a major grain legume in Sub Saharan Africa whose production is heavily affected by viral diseases. A disease survey and antigen-coated plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACP-ELISA) were used to determine the incidence, severity and occurrence of viruses infecting cowpea in some major growing areas in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. The survey revealed the highest virus incidence (81.6%) and severity (3.01) in Ejura, and the least incidence (46.7%) and severity (2.38) in Nkoranza. The ACP-ELISA results indicated that Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BICMV) was the most prevalent virus, with occurrence ranging from 32% in Mampong to 60% in Atebubu. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was the least detected, occurring only in samples from Nkoranza (4%). Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV), Cowpea mottle virus (CPMoV), Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), Cowpea aphid borne mosaic virus (CABMV) and Cowpea yellow mottle virus (CYMV) were also detected in the samples. The prevalence of these viruses suggest the need for continuous monitoring of cowpea fields in the country to ensure effective disease management.
Antigen-coated plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACP-ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the presence and seed transmissibility of bean common mosaic virus-blackeye cowpea mosaic (BCMV-BICM) in farm- retained cowpea seed lots obtained from 46 locations, including markets and farms in major cowpea growing areas in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. In the growout tests, virus symptomatic plants were observed in seedlings of 19 of the 46 seed lots tested under insect-proof screen-house conditions. All the symptomatic plants tested positive to polyclonal antiserum raised against BCMV-BICM in ACP-ELISA. The seed transmission rates based on symptoms ranged from 0 to 37.8 %. RT-PCR with primer pair designed to amplify the potyvirus Cylindrical Inclusion (CI) region resulted in an expected 720 bp DNA segment in 19 seed lots as a further confirmation of virus in the seed lots. The remaining 27 lots were asymptomatic and tested negative to BCMV-BlCM in both ACP-ELISA and RTPCR. The findings of this study revealed seed as the source of primary inoculum in the farmers’ fields and may aid in the implementation of control strategies such as discouraging farmers from retaining their own seeds for subsequent sowing and encouraging them to take appropriate measures in obtaining virus-free cowpea seeds from other sources.
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