Preliminary studies on the serotypes and sero-distribution of Rice yellow mottle Sobemovirus in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Twenty-seven field isolates of Rice yellow mottle Sobemovirus were collected from different locations in northern Nigeria, with one from Cameroon isolates and two from Niger Republic, during the 2005 and 2006 cropping years. The isolates were typed serologically in the Triple Antibody Sandwich format of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (TAS-ELISA) test. The test showed that two serotypes (SA and SB) now exist in the northern Nigeria with SB dominating. These serotypes are entirely different from those obtainable in Cameroon and Niger Republic. SA and SB were found in Kaduna State, in northern Guinea Savanna while only one serotype (SA) was found in Katsina and Sokoto States in the Sudan Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. This is the first report of having more than one serotype of the virus in Nigeria. The information provided on the serotypes and their distribution could be useful in rice breeding programme to develop resistant cultivars