Evaluation of Bambara groundnut accessions for resistance to Cowpea mosaic virus (CABMV) in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Cowpea aphid born mosaic (CABMV) is a prevalent virus on legumes and particulary on Bambara
groundnut in Burkina Faso. Its impact has been recorded also on Cowpea and caused some significant
yield losses. The main of this study is to investigate the sources of resistance to CABMV by mechanical
inoculation tests in order to develop control strategies. Thus, eight accessions of Bambara groundnut were
assessed in the greenhouse in pots by mechanical inoculation method in two replicates. Infected plants showed characteristic symptoms of CABMV virus such yellow mosaic, leaf deformation
followed by leaf drop and stunting. The results of yield parameters showed that CABMV had an impact
on flowering, pod and seed formation. A1 and A6 accessions were less affected with pods losses
estimated between 21.71% to 35.74% and 24.44-32.35% for grain yield. These accessions (A1 and A6)
were tolerant to CABMV virus and could be used in Bambara groundnut varietal improvement program
in order to control effectively and sustainably CABMV virus.