Abstract
The purpose of the study was to identify different viruses infecting sweetpotato and the level of co-infection and spatial distribution of the viruses within the Acholi sub-region of northern Uganda. Multiplex PCR was used to screen and determine level of co-infection in 380 sweetpotato plants. The PCR scores were computed to give overall frequency of occurrence of different viruses. The spatial distribution of viruses was represented on an ArcGIS map. Of all screened samples, 24% (92/380) were infected with at least one virus. Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (65/92), sweetpotato chlorotic fleck virus (17/92) and sweetpotato mild mottle virus (8/92) were the most frequent viruses detected. Of sampled fields, 74% (28/38) had at least one virus-infected sweetpotato plant. The four viruses detected are the major viruses causing significant yield losses in major sweetpotato growing regions of Uganda and East Africa. The findings of limited distribution and low prevalence of the viruses in the region indicate it causes less burden to sweetpotato production in the sub-region compared with other parts of Uganda.
Highlights
Sweetpotato is an important crop for smallholder farmers in resource-limited rural settings of Africa
Up to seven sweetpotato viruses have been reported to infect and constrain sweetpotato production in East Africa. Six of these have been reported in Uganda [6,7], where they can cause up to 98% yield losses [8]
17.11% (65/380) of samples were infected with sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), 4.47% (17/380) with sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), 2.11% (8/380) with sweetpotato mild mottle virus (SPMMV) and only 0.5% (2/380) with sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV)
Summary
Sweetpotato is an important crop for smallholder farmers in resource-limited rural settings of Africa. It requires few inputs to grow, yields relatively well in poor soils and is drought tolerant [1]. It is a good carbohydrate source and the cheapest food security crop for subsistence farmers in Africa [2,3]. Up to seven sweetpotato viruses have been reported to infect and constrain sweetpotato production in East Africa. Six of these have been reported in Uganda [6,7], where they can cause up to 98% yield losses [8]
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