Cowpea is an annual tropical grain legume, which plays an important role in the nutrition of

people in developing countries of the tropics and subtropics, especially in sub-Saharan

Africa, Asia Central and South America. Due to its high protein content (20 – 25%), cowpea
has been referred to as "poor man's meat". It is very palatable, highly nutritious and relatively
free of metabolites or other toxins [1,2].

Cowpeas are susceptible to a wide range of pests and pathogens that attack the crop at all
stages of growth [3]. These include insects, bacteria, fungi and viruses. Estimated losses due
to virus infection have been variously put at between 10 and 100% [4,5], depending on the
virus-host-vector relationships as well as the prevailing epidemiological factors. Host- plant
resistance is currently the most effective method for the control of cowpea virus diseases in
Africa. Thus, an adequate knowledge of the viruses and the strains occurring in the main
cowpea-growing areas of Africa is a pre-requisite for effective control [6].

Out of more than 20 viruses reported on cowpea from different parts of the world [7-9] nine are
known to infect the crop naturally in Nigeria [10-12]. They include the following viruses: Cowpea
aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), genus Potyvirus, Cowpea yellow mosaic virus (CPMV), genus
Comovirus, Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), genus Sobemovirus, Cowpea mottle virus (CMeV),
genus Carmovirus, Cowpea golden mosaic virus (CPGMV), genus Bigeminivirus, Cucumber mosaic
virus (CMV), genus Cucumovirus, Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV), genus Carlavirus,
Viral diseases can cause severe damage to
cowpea crops. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)
genus Cucumovirus has shown to be highly seed
borne in many cowpea varieties (Thottappilly and
Rossel, 1988).
Although 14% reduction in yield is

(SHMV), genus Tobamovirus and Blackeye mosaic virus (BICMV), genus Potyvirus. On the
basis of geographical distribution, pathogenic variability and yield losses, CABMV, CPMV
and occasionally SBMV are the most important viruses in Nigeria. CMeV, CPGMV and
CMV are of localized importance while CPMMV and SHMV are not important. BICMV has
a low rate of occurrence. Separation and identification of these viruses is by vector
transmission, mechanical inoculation to diagnostic host species, symptomatology and
serology [

COWPEA APHID!!!!!

A distinctive virus with flexuous filamentous particles c. 750 nm long. It is seed-

borne in cowpea, has a wide experimental host range, is transmitted by several common
species of aphid, and occurs in many countries where cowpea is grown. The virus is
transmitted in the stylet-borne, non-persistent manner by Aphis craccivora
It causes a severe mosaic of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), the severity depending on
host cultivar and virus strain. Diseased cowpea plants show variable amounts of dark green
vein banding or interveinal chlorosis, leaf distortion, blistering and stunting.
It also infects many species in the Leguminosae and other strains also infect members
of the Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Labiatae and Solanaceae.

D.G. White)
VIRAL DISEASES OF CORN IN ILLINOIS
More than 25 viruses are known to infect corn. So far, only 4
viruses have caused natural infections of the corn crop in
Illinois—those causing maize dwarf mosaic (MDM), sugarcane
mosaic (SCM, formerly MDM strain B), maize dwarf mosaic
(MDM), wheat streak mosaic (WSM), and maize chlorotic dwarf
(MCD). Until 1977, the occurrence of those viruses was limited
to areas where alternate hosts were prevalent. The most
important alternate hosts are Johnsongrass for MDM and MCD
and wheat for WSM. In 1977 and 1978, however, SCM was
prevalent in northern Illinois where no Johnsongrass is found.
Other annual or perennial grasses may be serving as reservoirs for
the SCM virus, or aphids carrying SCM may blow in from
southern regions.
Identifying viral diseases of corn in the field is difficult. The
similarity of symptoms, occurrence of two or more viruses in the
same locality, existence of viral strains, and inadequate
diagnostic aids are some of the factors that lead to confusion in
diagnosis. In addition, several symptoms of viral infection can be
confused with genetic or mineral-deficiency abnormalities. The
possibility of genetic and nutritional disorders may be eliminated
by (1) transmission from diseased to healthy indicator plants, (2)
serological studies to detect the presence of a known plant virus, and (3) an examination of
diseased tissue
by electron microscopy to check for viral particles and virus induced abnormalities in the
plant cells.
MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC
Maize dwarf mosaic (MDM) was discovered in corn in the Midwest during 1962. It is widely
distributed
in bottomland fields that are close to rivers and other bodies of water. MDM is usually most
serious
where Johnsongrass is a common weed. The disease often reappears in the same fields or
general area
in succeeding years. Many fields will show only a trace of light infection one year, but will
be severely
damaged during following years. Sugarcane mosaic (SCM) was described in sugarcane in the
South in
the early 1900's but it was not known to occur commonly or cause problems in corn. Sweet
corn is more
susceptible than dent corn.
DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

report on
PLANT
DISEASE
RPD No. 211
May 1993
-2-
Figure 2. Electron micrograph of the long, flexuous rods
associated with both maize dwarf mosaic and sugarcane
mosaic. The virus particles, about 750 nm in length, are
shadowed with palladium.
Figure 3. Symptoms of maize chlorotic dwarf on a
young corn leaf (R); healthy leaf (L).
The symptoms of MDM and SCM occur first in the youngest leaves as an irregular, light- or
dark-green
mosaic or mottle that may develop into narrow, light-green or yellowish streaks along the
veins (Figure
1). The mosaic or mottle often appears as dark green areas on a yellowish or chlorotic
background. Early
infection, before the fourth or fifth leaf stage, may cause moderate to severe stunting, a
“bushiness” of the
plant, and poor seed set. In sweet corn, a lack of kernels at the butt end of the ears is
common. As
infected plants grow and the temperatures rise, the mosaic often fades and young leaves
become more
yellow. Plants infected by viruses early are predisposed to infections by fungi resulting in
stalk and ear
rots.
Only mild symptoms develop in corn plants when they become infected after the ear
formation is
advanced. The typical mosaic pattern is often seen most clearly on the youngest leaves. Plants
that are
infected late usually grow and produce normally.
The MDM and SCM virus particles are long,
flexuous rods about 750 nanometers in length (Figure
2). The virus is transmitted mechanically and also by
at least 20 species of aphids. The aphids can acquire
the virus by feeding on infected Johnsongrass plants
or other infected grasses in the spring and summer.
Transmission occurs when the virus-carrying aphids
migrate into corn fields and start to feed.
Several strains of both MDM and SCM viruses have
been given letter designations. In Illinois, strain A
(MDMV-A) and strain MB (SCMV-MB) have been
identified. MDMV-A overwinters in Johnsongrass
tubers; SCMV-MB does not infect Johnsongrass.
Besides all types of corn and Johnsongrass, over 100
wild and cultivated grasses are infected by these
viruses. These include sorghums, Sudangrass, sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids, several bristle
grasses, cup
grass, little bluestem and lovegrass, Indian grass, a number of foxtails, barnyard grass, large
crabgrass,
downy bromegrass or cheat, Japanese chess, goosegrass, as well as other Setaria, Panicum,
and Bromus
species. Some of these hosts show no visible symptoms when infected, especially in hot
weather. None
of the small grains, the useful pasture-forage grasses
(timothy, redtop, orchardgrass, smooth bromegrass,
bluegrasses, fescues, wild rye, ryegrasses, and reed
canarygrass), or such common weeds as quakegrass and
bullgrass, are known to become infected.
Maize Chlorotic Dwarf
The disease called maize chlorotic dwarf (MCD) was
discovered in the Midwest in 1972 and in Illinois in
1973. The symptoms of MCD include a stunting of the
plants and the appearance of chlorotic leaf margins and
chlorotic streaks in the leaf veins (Figure 3). A
-3-
Figure 4. Electron micrograph of negatively stained
maize chlorotic dwarf virus particles. The spherical
particles are about 28 nm in diameter.
reddening of the leaves is also common. The virus is not
transmitted mechanically, but it is spread from plant to
plant by the leafhopper Graminella nigrifrons in a semipersistent
manner. The MCD virus is acquired by the
leafhoppers from Johnsongrass and is transmitted to corn
as the insects feed. The spherical virus particles are
about 28 nanometers in diameter (Figure 4).
Maize chlorotic dwarf is found in areas where Johnsongrass
grows. Relatively little is known about the virus, its
host range and its complete distribution.
WHEAT STREAK MOSAIC
First observed in Nebraska in 1922, wheat streak mosaic
(WSM) has been reported in most states of the Great
Plains. Heat streak mosaic was first identified in Illinois in 1966.
At first, susceptible corn plants develop small, chlorotic spots or broken streaks at the tips of
the young
leaves. The streaks then elongate and develop parallel to the veins. Older leaves may become
chlorotic
near the tips, with green margins bordering the veins. A general yellowing and stunting of the
plant can
occur. Ears are often poorly developed with little or no seed set.
The particles of the wheat streak mosaic virus are long, flexuous rods that measure about 700
nanometers.
The virus is transmitted from plant to plant by the feeding of the wheat-curl mite Aceria
tulipae, an almost
microscopic organism that is white and elliptical-shaped. Once a mite acquires the WSM
virus from a
virus-infected plant by natural feeding, that mite carries the virus in its body for several
weeks. Mites are
easily blown a mile or more by strong winds. Neither the wheat-curl mite nor the wheat
streak mosaic
virus can survive more than a day or two if separated from a living plant. With the death of
the plant, the
virus is rapidly destroyed. No infective viral particles have been found in dead plant remains
or in the
seed of diseased plants.
Besides wheat and corn, hosts of the WSM virus and/or the wheat-curl mite include other
cereals and a
wide range of annual and perennial grasses. Large populations of wheat-curl mites
occasionally build up
on corn in dry weather. Toxic materials secreted while the mites feed are known to produce
kernel red
streak disease.
Control
1. Grow corn hybrids tolerant or resistant to MCMV-A and SCMV-MB.
2. Destroy Johnsongrass and other alternate grass hosts of the viruses causing maize dwarf
mosaic,
maize chlorotic dwarf, and wheat streak mosaic at least two weeks before planting corn. Do
not sow
corn in wheat stubble, volunteer wheat, or weed grasses. The best control occurs when all of
the
farmers in a community cooperate by destroying the alternate
hosts of these viruses.

Virus and virus-like diseases

American wheat striate (wheat striate mosaic) American wheat striate
mosaic virus mosaic (AWSMV) Barley stripe mosaic Barley stripe
mosaic virus (BSMV) Barley yellow dwarf Barley yellow dwarf virus
(BYDV) Brome mosaic Brome mosaic virus (BMV) Cereal chlorotic
mottle Cereal chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) Corn lethal necrosis Virus
complex (Maize chlorotic mottle virus [MCMV] and Maize dwarf
mosaic virus [MDMV] A or B or Wheat streak mosaic virus [WSMV])
Cucumber mosaic Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) Johnsongrass mosaic
Johnsongrass mosaic virus (JGMV) Maize bushy stunt Mycoplasmalike
organism (MLO), assoc. Maize chlorotic dwarf Maize chlorotic dwarf
virus (MCDV) Maize chlorotic mottle Maize chlorotic mottle virus
(MCMV) Maize dwarf mosaic Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV)
strains A, D, E and F Maize leaf fleck Maize leaf fleck virus (MLFV)
Maize line* Maize line virus (MLV) Maize mosaic (corn leaf stripe,
enanismo rayado) Maize mosaic virus (MMV) Maize pellucid ringspot
Maize pellucid ringspot virus (MPRV) Maize rayado fino (fine striping
disease) Maize rayado fino virus (MRFV) Maize red leaf and red stripe
Mollicute? Maize red stripe Maize red stripe virus (MRSV) Maize ring
mottle Maize ring mottle virus (MRMV) Maize rough dwarf (nanismo
ruvido) Maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV) Maize sterile stunt Maize
sterile stunt virus (strains of barley yellow striate virus) Maize streak
Maize streak virus (MSV) Maize stripe (maize chlorotic stripe, maize
hoja blanca) Maize stripe virus Maize tassel abortion Maize tassel
abortion virus (MTAV) Maize vein enation Maize vein enation virus
 (MVEV) Maize wallaby ear Maize wallaby ear virus (MWEV) Maize
white leaf Maize white leaf virus Maize white line mosaic Maize white
line mosaic virus (MWLMV) Millet red leaf Millet red leaf virus (MRLV)
Northern cereal mosaic Northern cereal mosaic virus (NCMV) Oat
pseudorosette (zakuklivanie) Oat pseudorosette virus Oat sterile
dwarf Oat sterile dwarf virus (OSDV) Rice black-streaked dwarf Rice
black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) Rice stripe Rice stripe virus (RSV)
Sorghum mosaic Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV), formerly
sugarcanemosaic virus (SCMV) strains H, I and M Sugarcane Fiji
disease Sugarcane Fiji disease virus (FDV) Sugarcane mosaic
Sugarcane mosaic

Viral diseases can cause severe damage to

cowpea crops. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)

genus Cucumovirus has shown to be highly seed

borne in many cowpea varieties (Thottappilly and

Rossel, 1988).

Although 14% reduction in yield is