Survey of potential insect vectors of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus in the Southern and Central rice basin of Benin

Abstract

Objectives: Insects are considered as the main vectors of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) in Africa. However, in Benin, little is known about the abundance and diversity of potential insect vectors of RYMV in rice fields to prevent and manage disease impact on rice production. Methodology and Results: The inventory of the potential insect vectors of this disease was carried out in the rice basin of the Southern and Central of Benin where three sites namely AfricaRice station, Koussin and Ouedeme, were prospected. The sweep net technique, visual observation and yellow plates trap were used to conduct the surveys. Eighty insect species belonging to 28 families and 8 orders were recorded at rice tillering, booting, heading and maturation stages. Variation of insect diversity was low among the sites. The shorthorned grasshopper Oxya hyla (Serville), the ladybird beetle Chnootriba similis (Mulsant), the rice white leafhopper Cofana spectra (Distant) and the stalk-eyed fly Diopsis thoracica (Westwood) were the most important species considering their relative abundance (10.62%, 5.19%, 7.99% and 7.01%, respectively) and frequency of occurrence (90%, 80%, 73.33% and 80%, respectively). These insects were mostly present at tillering and booting stages. Conclusion and application of results: Seventy-five (75 %) of the recorded species were not identified as RYMV vectors before. Special attention must be paid to the distribution and importance of these insects in the fields. Studies on their ability to transmit RYMV according ecological conditions should be done to know high-risk production areas and to prevent large epidemics of RYMV.

Assessment of Korean rice lines for their reaction to rice yellow mottle virus in Ghana

“…It is transmitted by livestock as they graze from field to field ( Ochola and Tusiime 2011 ), by insects ( Koudamiloro et al. 2015 , 2019 ) and by wind ( Sarra et al., 2004 ). Contaminated scissors with small blades can transmit the virus up to 12 seedlings during continuous cutting ( Uke et al., 2014 ).…”

“…RYMV disease is transmitted when the sap of infected leaves comes into contact with the cells of healthy leaves (S er e et al, 2013). It is transmitted by livestock as they graze from field to field (Ochola and Tusiime 2011), by insects (Koudamiloro et al 2015(Koudamiloro et al , 2019 and by wind (Sarra et al, 2004). Contaminated scissors with small blades can transmit the virus up to 12 seedlings during continuous cutting (Uke et al, 2014).…”

Evaluating the incidence and severity of rice yellow mottle virus and maize streak virus on rice (Oryza sativa L.) and associated insects in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

“…Most of the identified insects (Locris rubens, Poophilus costalis, Cheilomenes sulphurea and Paratettix spp) have been reported by Koudamiloro et al (2014) to be found on rice fields in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. The insects have also been confirmed as vectors of viral diseases infecting rice and have the capacity to cause extreme damage to the rice plant (Koudamiloro et al, 2019;Asala and Alegbejo, 2016). This study provides the first research on rice viruses in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and since epidemiologically, viral diseases are not static, further field trials and survey studies are recommended.…”