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Review
. 2019;9(1).
doi: 10.5897/JGMV2019.0073. Epub 2019 Jun 30.

Maize lethal necrosis and the molecular basis of variability in concentrations of the causal viruses in co-infected maize plant

L A O Awata  1 , B E Ifie  2 , P Tongoona  2 , E Danquah  2 , M B Jumbo  3 , M Gowda  3 , P W Marchelo-D'ragga  4 , Chelang'at Sitonik  3   5 , L M Suresh  3
Affiliations
Review

Maize lethal necrosis and the molecular basis of variability in concentrations of the causal viruses in co-infected maize plant

L A O Awata et al. J Gen Mol Virol. 2019.

Abstract

Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease is new to Africa. First report was in Kenya in 2012, since then the disease has rapidly spread to most parts of eastern and central Africa region including Tanzania, Burundi, DRC Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia and similar symptoms were observed in South Sudan. Elsewhere, the disease was caused by infection of Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV) in combination with any of the potyviruses namely; maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and tritimovirus wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). In Africa, the disease occurs due to combined infections of maize by MCMV and SCMV, leading to severe yield losses. Efforts to address the disease spread have been ongoing. Serological techniques including enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), genome-wide association (GWAS) mapping and next generation sequencing have been effectively used to detect and characterize MLN causative pathogens. Various management strategies have been adapted to control MLN including use of resistant varieties, phytosanitary measures and better cultural practices. This review looks at the current knowledge on MLN causative viruses, genetic architecture and molecular basis underlying their synergistic interactions. Lastly, some research gaps towards MLN management will be identified. The information gathered may be useful for developing strategies towards future MLN management and maize improvement in Africa.

Keywords: Co-infection; Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV); maize; sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV); synergism; virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have not declared any conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Theoretical representation for replication cycle of SCMV and MCMV inside cytoplasm of co-infected maize plant.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vectors of MLN viruses and symptoms; (a) an adult Aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis), (b) an adult Thrips (Frankliniella williamsi), (c) symptom (death-heart) of MLN, (d) symptom (barren cob) of MLN, (e) nursery evaluation of maize lines under artificial MLN inoculation in Naivasha, Kenya.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) T=3 icosahedral capsid protein of MCMV containing 12 pentameric and 20 hexameric capsomeres, (b) structural organisation of MCMV genome, (c) non-enveloped, helical, flexuous, filamentous and symmetry of SCMV, (d) structural organisation of SCMV genome. Sources: Stenger and French (2008), VirusZone (2016), Xia et al. (2016) and Xie et al. (2011).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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