Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus

Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) is a significant plant pathogen belonging to the Potyvirus genus within the Potyviridae family, characterized by flexuous filamentous particles.

The virus is transmitted in a non-persistent manner by various aphid species, most notably Aphis craccivora, during brief probing and feeding activities on host tissues.

Seed transmission is another critical pathway, allowing the virus to establish itself in new fields and survive between growing seasons in the embryo of infected seeds.

The pathogen is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions, primarily affecting areas where leguminous crops such as cowpea and soybean are intensively cultivated.

Laboratory diagnosis through techniques like ELISA or RT-PCR is essential for accurate identification, as symptoms often overlap with other viral or physiological disorders.

The virus host range primarily includes legumes such as cowpea, soybean, peanut, and various types of lupin, causing significant economic losses in these crops.

CABMV infection interferes with essential physiological processes, leading to systemic development issues and reduced vigor in infected plant populations.

Infected crops typically show a marked decrease in grain yield and pod production due to poor flower development and seed malformation.

Wild legumes surrounding cultivated fields often act as secondary hosts and reservoirs, facilitating the continuous spread of the virus throughout the season.

The impact is most severe when early-season infections occur, leading to stunted plants that never recover their full reproductive potential.

The most characteristic symptom is a mosaic pattern on leaves, consisting of light and dark green mottled patches, often accompanied by general chlorosis.

Leaves often exhibit severe deformation, including curling, wrinkling, and reduction in size, which impairs the plant's ability to perform photosynthesis effectively.

Stunting is a common result of systemic infection, characterized by shortened internodes and a overall reduced plant height compared to healthy individuals.

In some susceptible varieties, necrotic lesions or streaks may appear on pods, further degrading the quality and market value of the harvested product.

• Leaf mosaic pattern
• Leaf deformation and curling
• Plant stunting
• Reduced pod count
• Chlorotic mottling

The use of certified, virus-free seeds is the primary strategy to prevent the initial introduction of CABMV into production areas.

Proactive management of aphid populations using targeted insecticide applications during the early vegetative stage is crucial to limit virus transmission.

Sanitation practices, including the eradication of weeds and volunteer leguminous plants, are vital to eliminate potential sources of primary infection.

Crop rotation programs that introduce non-host species help break the infection cycle and reduce the inoculum load in the field environment.

Breeding and planting resistant cultivars remains the most sustainable and efficient approach for long-term control of this viral pathogen.