Plant diseases represent a significant challenge for agricultural production, directly affecting plant productivity and quality. Local species of Amaranthus blitum and viridis possess high commercial potential, driven by growing demand and initiatives to combat rural poverty. However, limited diagnostic capacity and the absence of effective control methods have hindered the phytosanitary management of these crops. Between April and June 2024, field trials were conducted at the Agrijovem Cooperative in Quicombo, funded by PDCT-MESCTI, with the aim of identifying the main diseases with economic impact on the production of these species. The plants were visually inspected with a magnifying glass, photographed, and samples of the affected parts collected. Microscopic analyses at the ISPCS Biology Laboratory, combined with morphological identification keys and the Agrio Software, allowed for the identification of white rust as the most prevalent disease. This foliar disease was favored by specific climatic conditions relative humidity of 80% and an average temperature of 25 °C reaching an incidence rate exceeding 50%. The leaf spots caused by the fungus impair the appearance of the vegetables, making their commercialization unfeasible. Identifying white rust makes it possible to adopt effective control strategies, aiming to protect production and ensure the quality required by the market.
O. Pelinganga, E. José, Fernando Francisco de Sousa et al.· Revista Angolana de Ciências· 0 citations
Climatic changes are heavily affecting the sustainability of vegetable crops crucial for food supply worldwide, mainly in subtropical countries. One of the main threats to food security is the spread of diseases caused by plant viruses, favored by irregular rains and extreme temperatures, which reduce crop yield and quality. During a preliminary field survey carried out in two provinces of Angola in 2024, a few symptomatic plants of tomato, habanero pepper, common bean and a wild weed were sampled. These plants generally showed dwarfing, yellowing and leaf curl and were submitted to high-throughput sequencing to detect any viral agent. The evidence of mixed infections of several polyphagous viruses with RNA or DNA genomes, variously affecting the selected plants, was assessed from the sequence analysis and further confirmed for most samples by molecular tests, like (RT)-PCR or qPCR. Emerging polero-, begomo and tobamoviruses were denoted as infecting these plants. A novel, previously unknown carlavirus was also described in a wild weed. Most of those viruses are efficiently mechanically transmitted or airborne vehiculated by insect vectors. Although based on a limited number of samples, this study provides a first insight into the diversity of viruses infecting vegetable crops in Angola. It also highlights the pressing need for a broader monitoring to better understand virus distribution and epidemiology, and suggests the use of virus-free seeds to reduce the potential risk to crop production.
Serafina Serena Amoia, A. Giampetruzzi, Fernando Francisco de Sousa et al.· Viruses· 0 citations
We use cookies to run the site and, with your consent, for analytics and to show ads.
See our Cookie Policy.
