Identification of viruses infecting sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) in Benin

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) production in sub-Saharan Africa is affected by viral diseases caused by several interacting viruses, including Potyvirus and Sweepovirus. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the incidence and characterizing sweetpotato viruses in Benin. A field survey was conducted in 16 districts of Benin, and 138 plant samples were collected with symptoms from 35 fields. Viruses were identified using molecular diagnoses and Sanger sequencing. The symptoms of the detected viruses were then evaluated by grafting infected sweetpotato scions onto healthy Ipomoea setosa plants, using two scions per plant. Eight viruses were detected from samples: cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), sweet potato virus G, sweet potato feathery mottle virus, sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus, sweet potato latent virus (SPLV) with sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) and sweet potato symptomless virus 1 (SPSMV-1) predominating at 70 and 13% incidence, respectively. Co-infections and mixed infections, such as SPSMV-1 + CMV, SPLCV + CMV, SPSMV-1 + SPLCV, CMV + SPCSV, SPSMV-1 + CMV + SPLCV, and SPSMV-1 + CMV + SPLCV + SPLV + SPLCV, have been observed. This study is the first to document the significant presence of SPSMV-1 and SPLCV in sweetpotato fields in Benin. The findings could provide a valuable foundation for further research into the impact of these viruses on sweetpotato productivity in Benin. Additionally, the findings of this study could assist agricultural policymakers in developing strategies to control sweetpotato viruses in the region.