African cassava mosaic virus (African cassava mosaic)

Abstract Cassava is vegetatively propagated therefore ACMV and other CMGs are primarily transmitted via movement of contaminated cuttings. Consequently, introductions of specific CMGs into new localities mirror patterns of cassava cuttings exchange among farmers. Once infected cuttings are planted, the virus establishes easily and can be transmitted within and between fields through the feeding behaviour of the whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci. ACMV is particularly invasive in that it is the most widespread of all known CMGs, occurring across all cassava-producing countries of Africa in cassava and several alternative host plants (Thottappilly et al., 2003; Alabi et al. 2015). ACMV has also been reported infecting non-cultivated exotic cotton species in Pakistan (Nawaz-Ul-Rehman et al., 2012) further underscoring its invasive nature. Yield loss due to CMD can range from 12 to 82%, depending on the cassava variety and infection type (Owor et al., 2004). ACMV is not on the IUCN or ISSG alert list.