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Title: RESISTANCE-BREAKING ISOLATES OF MAIZE STREAK GEMINIVIRUS (MSV) IDENTIFIED IN KENYA

Author
item NJUGUNA, J - OSU/OARDC-PLANT PATH DEPT
item Louie Jr, Raymond
item GORDON, DONALD - OSU/OARDC-PLANT PATH DEPT

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Streak disease of maize (Zea mays) was observed in 17 of 19 districts in Kenya surveyed in 1994-1995. The highest incidence in farmers' fields (53.5%) was recorded in the Kiambu district in the Central province. Streak symptoms were also observed on field-grown wheat (Triticum aestivum) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and on 11 wild grass species. Collections of streak diseased maize and 11 grass species, tested by ELISA with antisera to MSV isolates from Nigeria and Kenya, were found infected with MSV. Virus isolates from these collections were transmitted to maize, wheat, finger millet and various wild grass species by Cicadulina mbila. Severe and mild symptoms causing isolates were recovered from Setaria verticillata and Panicum maximum. MSV isolates collected from maize from the Coastal and Lake regions of Kenya infected two CIMMYT MSV immune maize lines, screened in Zimbabwe, causing a few streaks on developing leaves. This finding suggests that maize lines found to be immune to MSV isolates in one African country may not be immune to isolates in other African countries.