Yield loss caused by yam mosaic virus (YMV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on the varieties of Dioscorea spp

Abstract The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the yam (YMV) and cucumber (CMV) mosaic viruses on the yield of ten yam varieties. Forty plants per variety in a greenhouse inoculated with each of the two viruses were compared to healthy plants. The DAS-ELISA and TAS-ELISA tests have confirmed the infection of the experimental plants. Our findings showed a reduction in the mass of tubers in the plants infected by these viruses. A viral concentration decreasing from the apical portion to the base portion of the infected tuber was recorded. The results showed that YMV and CMV cause yield losses of yams. The use of the apical portion of the tuber of which serology is not known, could be a source of infection and viral propagation. The harvest of the infected tuber when the stems are still fresh decreases by 50% the viral concentration in infected tubers.