Cassava Brown Streak Disease

Cassava Brown Streak Disease Latest News

Recently, a study warns that more than a third of Africa is at risk of Cassava Brown Streak Disease

About Cassava Brown Streak Disease

• It is a devastating disease that causes loss of cassava root (tuber) production and quality.
• Cause: It is caused by two types of virus, Cassava Brown Streak Virus (CBSV) and Ugandan Cassava Brown Streak Virus (UCBSV).
• It was first identified in Africa in the coastal region of East Africa close to the mid-20th century.
  • Its presence has now been confirmed in several eastern, central and southern African countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, the DRC, South Sudan, Malawi and now Zambia.
• Spread: It is primarily spread by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, a pest that exists as a complex of genetically distinct groups.
  • It spreads through particular whitefly populations in sub-Saharan Africa, known as Sub-Saharan Africa 1 and 2, which are highly efficient at transmitting the virus.

‹ ›

Symptoms of Cassava Brown Streak Disease

• Symptoms of Cassava brown streak disease can be observed on leaves, stems and cassava roots
• Typical CBSD symptoms are leaf chlorosis, brown streaks on stems and dry hard rot in roots which affects both the quality and quantity of edible storage roots. 
• The disease causes necrosis in the roots of infected plants, often leading to total crop loss. 
• It is observed that weak clean-seed systems, whitefly transmission and climate pressures accelerate the spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease.
• Management of CBSD:  Planting of clean cassava cuttings is the main way of controlling CBSD.
  • Use of resistant varieties is the most sustainable way of controlling CBSD.

Source: DTE