Zimbabwe is Free from Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMY): The Chief Virus for Maize Lethal Necrosis

Zimbabwe is one of the largest exporters of hybrid maize seed to markets in East Africa, Southern Africa and recently into West Africa. This export business is threatened by invasive pests likely to impact market access, food security and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Chief among the pests is Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), which vector spreads maize disease caused by the co-infection of Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV) from the genus Machlomovirus in the Tombusviridae family and any Potyviridae virus and it can cause up to 100% yield losses.