The Susceptibility of Two Bambara Groundnut Varieties to Blackeye Cowpea Mosaic Virus and Cowpea Yellow Mosaic Virus Infection

Abstract

Bambara groundnut is a high-energy plant which is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and minerals. The crop attracts low patronage by farmers, consumers and researchers and is still commonly being grown by poor farmers at the subsistence level in Nigeria. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the susceptibility of Nsuka Red and Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut
varieties to Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BICMV) and Cowpea yellow mosaic virus (CPYMV) inoculation. The viruses were mechanically applied on the Bambara groundnut varieties at 14 days after planting. The results indicated that the highest virus disease incidence (11.83 - 18.51%) was in Nsuka Red Bambara groundnut variety inoculated with BICMV. The effects of the viruses on plant height showed that Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut variety inoculated with CPYMV had taller plants (8.92 – 29.54cm) compared to the other virus inoculation treatments. The yield parameters showed that the significantly lowest yields such as; pod length (16.10mm), number of pods (7.94), number of seeds per pod (0.22) and weight of seeds per plant (2.36g) were gotten on Nsuka Red Bambara groundnut variety that was inoculated with BICMV. The results obtained from the study suggest that Nsuka Red and Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut varieties were susceptible to BICMV and CPYMV with consequent reductions in growth and yield of plants. There is need therefore to control virus spread on Bambara groundnuts for higher productivity, increased income and food security. The Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut variety which was more tolerant to the viruses could be recommended to farmers and crop breeders in virus disease managemen.