Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic potyvirus: a review

Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic potyvirus (CABMV) is a cosmopolitan, economically significant seed-borne virus of cowpea. It can cause a yield loss of 13 - 87% under field conditions depending upon crop susceptibility, virus strain and the environmental conditions. CABMV has spread world-wide through the exchange of virus-infected germplasm material. The virus-infected seed provides the initial inoculum and aphids are responsible for the secondary spread of the disease under field conditions. The virus symptoms vary with the cowpea genotype and virus strain. Excellent sources of resistance are available for the breeding of resistant cultivars. Resistance in cowpea is conferred by either a dominant or a recessive gene. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most appropriate method for the detection of the virus in the seed or plant tissue for seed certification programmes. Production of virus-free seed is another control option. Given the significance of the disease and the large area under cowpea cultivation in the world, we review knowledge of various aspects of the disease.