Kenyan cassava mosaic

The causal agent of this disease is Begomovirus manihotiskenyaense, a member of the Geminiviridae family. As a systemic plant pathogen, it disrupts the internal physiology of the host plant, severely impeding its ability to synthesize energy and nutrients required for proper vegetative growth and tuber development.

The virus primarily infects cassava (Manihot esculenta), a vital crop in tropical agriculture. Because cassava serves as a primary calorie source for a vast population, the viral infection presents a major concern for food security, often causing substantial reductions in harvestable yields if not managed properly.

Disease identification is generally straightforward based on specific field symptoms, which include:

• yellowing or mosaic-patterned discoloration on the leaves;
• distinct distortion, curling, and crinkling of leaf blades;
• stunted development of the entire plant structure;
• significant reduction in the size and quality of cassava tubers.

Transmission occurs predominantly through the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, which acts as the primary vector for the virus. Environmental factors such as high temperature and humidity promote rapid whitefly population growth, facilitating the efficient spread of Begomovirus manihotiskenyaense across cassava plantations.

Management and prevention strategies focus on the integration of phytosanitary measures, such as utilizing virus-free planting materials and resistant cassava varieties. Effective pest management to reduce whitefly density, combined with the immediate removal and destruction of infected plants, remains the most viable strategy for minimizing crop loss in endemic regions.