Sweet potato mild mottle virus

Ipomovirus lenisbatatae, widely known as the cause of Sweet potato mild mottle disease, is a plant virus belonging to the Potyviridae family. It is a systemic pathogen that infects the vascular tissues of host plants, leading to a disruption of physiological functions and a significant decline in overall harvest quality and quantity.

The primary host for this virus is the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). While it mainly affects commercial crops, the virus can persist in wild species of the Ipomoea genus, which often act as natural reservoirs, allowing the virus to survive between growing seasons.

Symptoms of the infection manifest primarily on the foliage. Common indicators include mild mottling, chlorotic spots, leaf distortion, and stunted growth. In severe cases, the infected plant may exhibit reduced vigor, which negatively impacts the development of tubers and reduces their nutritional value and commercial marketability.

The virus is primarily transmitted by whiteflies, specifically Bemisia tabaci, which act as efficient vectors during the growing season. It can also be spread through infected vegetative propagation materials. Warm environmental conditions that favor whitefly populations significantly increase the risk of rapid disease transmission within a field.

Effective management and prevention are crucial for sustaining yields. Essential strategies include:

• Sourcing healthy, virus-indexed propagation stock.
• Implementing rigorous insect vector control programs using appropriate pesticides.
• Promptly roguing and destroying symptomatic plants to eliminate the inoculum source.
• Maintaining proper field sanitation and observing spatial isolation from potential host weeds.