Poster: Biology & Disease Mgmt: Virology
105-P
Studies on Groundnut rosette disease and implications of the newly reported Groundnut ringspot virus for groundnut production in Ghana
A. APPIAH (1), R. Tegg (2), S. Offei (3), C. Wilson (2) (1) Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, School of Land and Food, University of Tasmania, Australia, Australia; (2) Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, School of Land and Food, University of Tasmania,
Groundnut rosette is a devastating disease of groundnut (peanut) and presents a major constraint to crop production. Twelve cultivars of groundnut were screened in field trials for resistance to Groundnut rosette disease (GRD), caused by infection with Groundnut rosette assistor virus (GRAV), Groundnut rosette virus (GRV) and its satellite RNA. GRAV infection rates were higher in the wet (13.9–100%) than the dry (11.8–61.8%) season. Four local varieties were rated as resistant along with three of six improved varieties previously regarded as possessing resistance to GRD. These resistant cultivars could be used in the interim management of the disease in the field and further exploited in breeding programmes for the development of virus-resistance. Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV)-like symptoms were observed within these trials. The identity of the virus was confirmed by ELISA, RT-PCR and amplicon sequencing, and represents a first record of GRSV for Ghana. GRSV was found in most cases in mixed infection with the GRD agents. The identification of GRSV in groundnut fields in Ghana highlights the need for its inclusion in future groundnut-breeding programs. Genetic diversity analysis of the coat protein gene of GRAV revealed more than 97% nucleotide and amino acid identity among the Ghanaian, Nigerian and Malawian isolates, providing a good opportunity for the development of pathogen-derived resistance to combat the disease.