Southern Bean Mosaic Virus Isolated from Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in the Ivory Coast. L. Givord, Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre ORSTOM d’Adiopodoumé, B. P. V 51, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Plant Dis. 65:755-756. Accepted for publication 19 May 1981. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-755.

A disease characterized by vein clearing, vein banding, and distortion of leaves and growth reduction of cowpea plants was observed in the northern Ivory Coast. The host range of virus isolated from diseased plants was almost totally restricted to leguminous species and was seed-transmitted in cowpea. Electron microscopy of purified preparations showed isometric particles 30 nm in diameter. In cowpea mechanically inoculated with purified virus, symptoms were identical to those observed in the field. The virus was identified as southern bean mosaic virus by host range, physical properties, and serologic tests. No other viruses were associated with the disease. The virus reduced seed weight of cultivars California Blackeye and Edible Blackeye 11 and 59%, respectively. This is the first report of this disease in the Ivory Coast.