Credits: Biovision-Infonet
(c) Thorben Lundsgaard, KVL, Denmark
These viruses produce a mosaic pattern on cowpeas. They may be found singularly or in combination with others. They cause irregular light and dark green mosaic patterns on the leaves.
Some viruses cause thickened, malformed leaves. The mosaic patterns are best observed on the younger foliage. Plants may be stunted and fail to produce normal pods.
If the disease attacks plants at the early growth stage, no pods should be expected.
The most common virus disease on cowpeas is cowpea aphid-borne mosaic potyvirus. It is transmitted by aphids.
Mosaic diseases include:
- Cowpea mosaic comovirus (CpMV)
- Blackeye cowpea mosaic potyvirus (BICMV)
- Cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV)
- Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic potyvirus (CAMV)
- Cowpea mottle carmovirus (CPMoV)
- Cowpea golden mosaic bigeminivirus
What to do:
- Plant resistant varieties, where available.
- Use healthy, disease-free seeds rather than saving seed from a crop that could be infected.
- Practise crop rotation with non-legumes (e.g. cereals).
- Remove alternative hosts of virus diseases (legumes).