Possible wild hosts of Rice yellow mottle Sobemovirus in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Nine grass weeds with and without the typical mottling and yellowing symptoms of Rice yellow mottle (genus Sobemovirus) were collected from the infected rice field at Bomo, northern Nigeria. The weed samples were analyzed by direct antibody sandwich enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). All the weed species [Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers, Cyperus esculentus L., Cyperus rotundus L., Eleocharis complanata Boeck, Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertner, Fuirena umbellata Rottb, Imperata cylindrica L., Kyllinga pumila Michaux and Paspalum vaginatum Sw.] tested positive for the virus. This is the first report of these weed species as natural reservoirs of the pathogen.