Cassava common mosaic virus infection affects growth and yield components of cassava plants (Manihot esculenta) in Argentina

Abstract

Cassava is an important crop with great economic and social significance in many countries. Most of its biomass is usable: storage roots can be destined for industry or fresh consumption, leaves are a source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and stems can be used as propagation material. Due to its vegetative propagation, cassava yield is greatly constrained by viral diseases. Cassava common mosaic virus (CsCMV), one of the most widely spread viruses in Latin America, is the only cassava‐infecting potexvirus able to cause disease in a single infection: cassava common mosaic disease (CCMD). Here, we evaluated the effect of an Argentinian strain of CsCMV on several agronomic traits. Field trials were established in north‐eastern Argentina for three successive cropping seasons, 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19. CsCMV presence was confirmed by PCR or ELISA tests in mechanically inoculated cassava plants. The evaluated traits were plant height (PH), total fresh weight (TFW), shoot fresh weight (SFW), diameter and FW of tuberous root per plant (TRD and FWTR), FW of each individual tuberous root (FWiTR), length and number of tuberous roots (TRL and TRN), harvest index (HI), and estimated yield of tuberous root (EY) in both infected and noninfected plants. Significant yield losses were recorded in infected plants. The most affected traits were EY and FWTR (both showing 44.3% of losses), followed by TFW, SFW, TRN, and FWiTR (37.8%, 33.5%, 29.9%, and 24.8% of losses, respectively). These losses are extremely high for Argentina, where this crop provides food security and demand for the raw material is unsatisfied.

Cassava Frogskin Disease: Current Knowledge on a Re-Emerging Disease in the Americas

“…In fact, dry matter in CFSD-affected roots diminished by 5.73% and 10.88% in Valencia and Señorita, respectively [33], and by 4.76% and 5.84% in BRA383 and Reina. A reduced dry matter accumulation is related to a reduced starch yield and has already been reported in relation to virus infections in cassava by other groups [39,40]. Among the organic acids, malic and succinic acids showed a significant increase in CFSD-affected roots in the four genotypes evaluated.…”

“…infections in cassava by other groups [39,40]. Among the organic acids, malic and succinic acids showed a significant increase in CFSD-affected roots in the four genotypes evaluated.…”

“…Oryzavirus: Viruses have long been associated with root diseases in cassava. The best example is that of the cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) causing necrotic symptoms in affected roots [29] and the recent reports from Venturini et al [39] and Collavino et al [40], showing a reduction of up to 30% in root yield associated with the alphaflexivirid CsCMV. Similarly, more than 10 different species of geminivirids are reported to cause dramatic root yield reductions in Africa and Asia [4], indicating the potential of viruses to cause dramatic reductions in root yield.…”

Evolución del banco in vitro de germoplasma de mandioca (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae) de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias de la UNNE y del Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (CONICET-UNNE) en tiempos prepandémicos y pandémicos por COVID-19

“…Además, esta manera de trabajar hizo y sigue haciendo propicia la ejecución de proyectos de investigación y la formación de recursos humanos calificados mediante el desarrollo de estadías, pasantías, tesinas de grado o tesis de posgrado (Mroginski et Scocchi, 1992;Scocchi et al, 1996;Medina et al, 2007a;Cavallero, 2010;Medina, 2010;Bertollo et al, 2015;Galeano, 2016;Schaller, 2016;Medina et al, 2017b;Bertollo, 2019;Zahner, 2021). Estas herramientas académicas o de interacción inter-institucionales, favorecieron el aumento del número de las entradas, haciendo posible la preservación de un patrimonio natural invaluable, útil para el progreso productivo y económico de la región y para el desarrollo de estudios científicos relacionados con aspectos morfogénicos, sanitarios, genéticos, agronómicos y tecnológicos (Medina et al, 2003;Medina et al, 2007b;Cavallero et al, 2012;Zanini et al, 2018;Collavino et al, 2022).…”

Evidence of cassava common mosaic virus in cassava shoot apical meristems

“…CsCMV causes mosaic leaf symptoms and leaf blade distortion, especially in young leaves; these symptoms lead to progressive loss of chloroplast function and diversion of carbon flux in source leaves (Zanini et al, 2021). In turn, recent studies have shown that CsCMV infections affect parameters involved in yield components, namely plant height, shoot fresh weight, fresh weight of tuberous roots, tuberous root number, fresh weight of individual tuberous roots, total fresh weight per plant, estimated yield of tuberous root, tuberous root diameter and tuberous root length, causing important reductions in plant growth and tuberous root production and quality (Collavino et al, 2022). On the other hand, although CsCMV has no known biological vector (Adams et al, 2004), it infects host tissues easily and can persist in the propagation material and in work tools, which contributes to its great dispersal (Silva et al, 2011;Zanini et al, 2018).…”