Bourbon grass mastrevirus

Mastrevirus bourbonense is a viral plant pathogen belonging to the Mastrevirus genus within the Geminiviridae family. The virus contains a circular single-stranded DNA genome. It is known to cause systemic infections in monocotyledonous plants, leading to severe physiological disturbances in the affected host tissues.

The primary hosts of this virus are members of the Poaceae family. This includes various wild grasses and cultivated cereal crops. The presence of wild grass reservoirs surrounding agricultural fields is a critical factor for the persistence of the virus in the environment between growing seasons.

Symptoms of the infection typically manifest as chlorotic striping on the leaves, aligned with the leaf veins. Affected plants usually exhibit significant stunting, reduced tiller production, and overall loss of vitality. In severe cases, leaf necrosis may follow the initial chlorosis, impacting the entire development of the plant.

Transmission of the virus is carried out by insect vectors, specifically leafhoppers, which acquire the virus while feeding on infected sap. The spread of the disease is highly dependent on the population dynamics of these vectors, which are often favored by specific temperature regimes and the absence of preventive measures.

The economic impact of the disease is associated with significant yield reduction and poor grain filling. Management strategies focus on:

• Monitoring and control of leafhopper populations with systemic insecticides.
• Selecting resistant or tolerant cereal cultivars.
• Implementing crop rotation to break the virus life cycle.
• Managing wild grass weeds in and around the fields.
• Ensuring optimal planting dates to avoid peak vector activity.