Prelecionista: Temilade M. Fetuga
Orientador: Professor Murilo Zerbini
Data: 14/05/2024, às 16h
Local: Anfiteatro do ESB 

Resumo: Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is an important food crop in Africa. The continent accounts  for 63% of the world’s cassava production, with Nigeria contributing 26% of global production,  as the world largest producer. Cassava forms a significant part of the daily diet of Nigerians, being  a staple food for 80% of households, and also serves as a source of income for farmers. Despite  its importance, cassava production faces numerous challenges, with Cassava mosaic disease  (CMD) posing a major threat. 

The disease was first identified in Tanzania, East Africa, in 1894 and was named  “Krauselkrankheit,” a German word meaning “rippling/crinkling illness” which aptly described  the symptoms observed on plants. Although it was assumed to be a viral disease but this was not  proven until the 1970s. 

Cassava mosaic disease is caused by a complex of begomoviruses, which includes Africa cassava  mosaic virus (ACMV) and East Africa cassava mosaic virus (EACMV). These viruses are transmitted  through infected stem cuttings and whitefly vectors, causing damage to the crop depending on  the level of infection. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as stunted growth, leaf  malformation, reduced tuber yield in infected plants, and no tuber growth on severely infected  cassava plant. 

CMD occurs in all the cassava growing areas and accounts for 25% to 95% yield loss. Since the  first report of this disease, it had caused widespread epidemics across Africa, resulting in  significant losses and famine. In Nigeria, CMD poses a major threat to cassava production as  numerous studies assessing its distribution have shown high rate of incidence and severity. There  are ongoing concerted efforts to manage and control the disease to ensure the sustainability of  cassava production and food security at large.