Eragrostis streak virus

Causal agent and disease type. The pathogen is Mastrevirus eragrostis, a member of the Mastrevirus genus within the Geminiviridae family. It is a single-stranded DNA virus that causes systemic infections in plants, primarily within the Poaceae family. The disease is classified as a viral pathogenesis, disrupting normal plant growth cycles and physiological functions.

Host range. The virus is primarily associated with Eragrostis species, but its host range extends to various wild and cultivated grasses. Many cereal crops grown in tropical and temperate zones can serve as hosts, making the virus a potential threat to forage production and grain yields in specific geographic regions.

Symptoms and signs. Infected plants typically exhibit distinct chlorotic streaks or striping running parallel to the leaf veins. As the disease progresses, the plants show signs of severe stunting, reduced biomass production, and general chlorosis. In severe infections, reproductive development may be hindered, leading to poorly filled grains or reduced seed viability.

Conditions for development and spread. Mastrevirus eragrostis is transmitted by insect vectors, specifically leafhoppers. The spread of the virus is strictly dependent on the movement and population density of these vectors. Outbreaks are often triggered by warm, favorable weather conditions that promote vector breeding, leading to secondary spread within and between fields.

Control and prevention measures. Management strategies focus primarily on vector control and the removal of infection sources. Key practices include monitoring leafhopper activity, implementing timely insecticide applications to disrupt the transmission cycle, and eliminating reservoir weeds from field margins. Utilizing resistant crop varieties remains the most sustainable approach to mitigating the impact of the virus in susceptible areas.