Cassava mosaic disease: NASC molecular diagnostic facility to the rescue

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has revealed that Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) poses an enormous threat to the food security of 135 million people in the continent.
However, as part of efforts to tackle this menace, the National Agriculture Seed Council (NASC) recently acquired a molecular diagnostic facility, JOHN OBA reports.
Potential Presently, Nigeria is regarded as the world’s largest producer of cassava with a share of 20.3 per cent with a projected potential income generation of over N260 billion annually.
This can only be possible with improved seeds, effective weed management system, improved agronomic practices and favourable weather condition.
Also cassava across the value chain is Nigeria’s major staple food especially the low income earners and rural dwellers.
Cassava can be grown in a wide range of environments and can withstand long period of drought.
It is not dependent on fertile soils and will produce at least some yield, even in very unfavourable conditions.
It can play a key role in food security.
Research has it that cassava is expected to become more important as human population and pressure on available land continue to increase and soil fertility decline.
And since Cassava is a major staple food in Nigeria, tackling cassava diseases is one of the most effective ways to support rural livelihoods and help the government achieve it pursue of food sufficiency in the country.
However, with the severity of these cassava diseases and the threat they pose to the food security of millions of Nigerians, the government through it agencies has been working to tackle this menace.
Cassava mosaic African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV), and South African cassava mosaic virus (SACMV) are distinct species of circular single stranded DNA viruses that are transmitted by whitefly and they primarily infect cassava plants.
Although cassava mosaic disease (CMD) has been an important constraint to cassava production in Africa for more than a century, research revealed that changes in the nature of the disease during the last two decades have led to losses on an unprecedented scale.
Both CMD and CBSD are transmitted through the use of infected planting material, while whiteflies feeds on the sap of young cassava leaves are vectors of the viruses.
CMD misshapes the cassava leaves and hampers the growth of the plant, leading to lower root yields.
At least 30 per cent or 45 million tons of Africa’s cassava crops is estimated to be lost to CMD annually.
According to FAO reports, the negative impact is even more severe when cassava plants are infected by CBSD.
The virus Cassava mosaic disease: NASC molecular diagnostic facility to the rescue One of the six scientists trained at FERA science UK, Mrs Tolulope Mewase, explaining the processes of Molecular Diagnosis on cassava leave while the Director General, Dr Philip Olusegun Ojo, look on during journalists inspection tour of the lab, in Abuja recently Photo: John Oba The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has revealed that Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) poses an enormous threat to the food security of 135 million people in the continent.
However, as part of efforts to tackle this menace, the National Agriculture Seed Council (NASC) recently acquired a molecular diagnostic facility, JOHN OBA reports.
attacks the roots, making it often difficult for farmers to detect the disease before early.
Without adequate response mechanisms, CBSD may cause root production losses of up to 100 per cent.
Measures In Nigeria, several measures by the federal government have been taken by subsequence administration to address the problem.
Part of these measures, is the National Agriculture Seed Council (NASC) acquisition of Molecular Diagnostics facility to facilitate the testing of cassava leaves.
The council under a project sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sponsored the “Building a sustainable integrated cassava seed system’ project (BASICS)”.
Under the project, NASC was supported with an ultramodern molecular diagnostic laboratory.
But prior to this, six young scientists that are staff of the Council made up of four females and two males were trained at FERA science UK in molecular diagnostics and seed health testing for two weeks.
They now form the manpower for this lab.
NASC lab tour Taking journalists through the lab, NASC Director General, Dr Philip Olusegun Ojo said this came about because of the resolve of the Council to ensure quality and disease-free seeds/ seedling are available.
He said the Council is introducing the diagnostic testing of seed, using molecular diagnosis which according to him is new in the sub-region and will be made available to the public at a minimal fee after all loose standard operating procedures have been finalised.
Speaking further, Dr.
Ojo said: “NASC as the regulating agency for seed industry carries out seed certification by physically and visually checking the fields to ensure that minimum standards such as genetic purity, freedom from pest and diseases and good agronomic practices are met.
“However, plants are susceptible to carrying viral load which cannot be seen by the naked eyes.
This informed the BASICS project working with cassava to set up this lab to test for cassava mosaic disease using the leaf sample.
This in essence is to curb continuous multiplication of viral infested seed.
“To the nation as a whole, this is a plus to ensure that biosecurity issues do not arise from the propagation of heavily infested planting materials.
Also in line with international best practices, seed for exports or imports can also be tested in the molecular lab to ensure they are free from hidden disease load,” he explained.
One of the six young scientists that were trained at FERA science UK, Mrs Tolulope Mewase, while taking the journalists through the testing processes, said the lab is divided into four sections which include; sample reception room.
“This is where all samples are received and documented before passing on for test.
“We also have DNA extraction room is where the DNA is extracted from the cassava leaf through a series of processes which include heating, grinding and centrifuging thus helping to separate the supernatant from the aqueous solution of the DNA.
“The Media preparation room is where buffer solution and primers are prepared and applied to the aqueous solution of the DNA.
While the fourth section is Genie room, the Genie III machine which is the latest technology in this category is where the results are been interpreted,” she explained.
Ojo explained that though the facility is yet to be commissioned but the council is prepared to make the country diseasefree seeds hub even as he assured that the council is poised to sanitise the industry, ensuring proper regulation and monitoring to ensure that only quality seeds are made available to farmers.
“To this end, we are promising more sensitisation operations, market surveillance and raids and appropriate sanctions for defaulters.
Of course, as the watchdogs and conscience of the society, you will be carried along,” he assured conclusively