Yellow Mosaic Disease of Crotalaria spectabilis in Nigeria Caused by a Potexvirus. E. C. K. Igwegbe, Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Anambra State. Plant Dis. 66:74-75. Accepted for publication 22 September 1981. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-74.

A slightly flexuous, rod-shaped virus measuring about 500 nm was isolated from leaves of Crotalaria spectabilis showing stunting, veinclearing, and yellow mosaic. Host range of the virus apparently was confined to legumes. The virus was readily transmitted by sap inoculation and by the aphid Myzus persicae. The virus in crude sap of infected Calopogonium mucunoides had a thermal inactivation point of between 55 and 60 C, a dilution end-point between 10^–3 and 10^–4, and longevity in vitro between 24 and 48 hr (20–22 C). The virus appears similar to centrosema mosaic virus reported from Papua and New Guinea. This is the first report of a potexvirus from Nigeria and possibly Africa.

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