Eggplant (S. melongena), an important and
popular vegetable crop commonly grown in Nigeria and
other parts of the world is usually affected by two
pertinent viruses: Eggplant mosaic virus (EMV) and
Eggplant mottled dwarf virus (EMDV). These two
destructive viruses cause considerable yield loss in
eggplant production. The need to guide the farmers
through scientific information and technology suggested
this targeted study on the two most prominent viruses
affecting the crop. There are insufficient information
pertaining to the crop and works on eggplant viruses and
their alternative hosts in Kaduna State are not available.
A serological survey and analysis was therefore carried
out in order to evaluate the presence and distribution of
the two viruses in Kaduna state of Nigeria. Most infected
plants in the areas surveyed showed virus-like symptoms
consisting predominantly of mottling, chlorosis, leaf
distortion and stunted growth. A total of two hundred
and seventy both of symptomatic and asymptomatic
eggplant leaf samples were collected from three LGAs
of the State. Twenty-one weed samples were also
collected from the locations. The samples were screened
using the Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme linked
Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA) for the presence of
Eggplant mosaic virus (EMV) and Eggplant mottled
dwarf virus (EMDV). Results showed that EMV and
EMDV were detected in single infection (EMV 16.67%,
EMDV 33.33%). Among the weed species tested, Senna
occidentalis, Isorbelina doka, Digitaria horizontalis
tested positive for EMV whileAgeratum conyzoides,
Axonopus compressus, Euphorbia heterophyllatested
positive for EMDV.Ageratum conyzoides tested positive
to both EMV and EMDV.
Keywords :
Eggplant, Kaduna, Virus, EMV, EMDV, Incidence, Farmers.