Incidence, Severity and Molecular Diagnostics of Diseases and Pests of Cassava in Cropping Systems of Liberia

Incidence, Severity and Molecular Diagnostics of Diseases and Pests of Cassava in Cropping Systems of Liberia

The West Africa Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) project is working to address the virus threats to root and tuber crop, particularly cassava, yams and sweet potato in West and Central Africa. The project is keen on building the requisite capacities of Liberia to facilitate the conduct of a number of activities, including field surveillance for monitoring, detecting, tracking and reporting on viral pathogens of high economic importance in smallholder production systems for food crops.

• Background

  The West Africa Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) project is working to address the virus threats to cassava, yams and sweet potato in West Africa. Whiteflies are major vectors of viral diseases, such as cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease which can reduce yield by up to 40% and at time up to 100% (Legg & Fauquet, 2004[1]). Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is primarily spread through the dissemination of stem cuttings obtained from cassava plants affected by the disease. Secondary spread can occur within and between fields through the activities of the vector (whiteflies). Root crops such as Cassava, Potatoes and Yam are the preferred carbohydrate food for more than 800 million people in Africa and viral threats to these crops could lead to unprecedented food shortage and famine if left unchecked (Legg & Fauquet, 2004[2]). WAVE aims to understand and predict root crop virus emergence and evolution in West Africa using modern environmental and disease monitoring systems. This will help to reduce the impact of these viruses on smallholder farmers and improve food security and nutrition across the region. The study will cover the entire 15 county of Liberia.

   

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  [1]Legg & Fauquet, 2004

  [2]Legg & Fauquet, 2004