DISTRIBUTION AND SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF THREE VIRUSES INFECTING SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas L. LAM.) IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Field survey was conducted on sweet potatoes fields in July 2016 wet season to determine the incidence and distribution of sweet potato viruses in six Local Government Areas (Giwa, Soba, Kachia, Igabi, Kudan and Zango-kataf) in Kaduna State Nigeria. Leaf samples (126) were collected from eighteen (18) farms and tested against Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), sweet potato virus 2 (SPV 2) and Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) using Ezyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) techniques. Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS-ELISA) was used to detect SPFMV and SPV2 while Triple Antibody Sandwich (TAS-ELISA) was used to detect SPCSV. The three viruses were detected. SPCSV had the highest incidence and was widely spread in all the six (6) LGAs. SPFMV and SPV2 were detected in 5 LGAs with incidences of (62.0 and 22.0%) respectively. These viruses occurred in mixed infection in five (5) of the LGAs except in Giwa LGA, while triple infections occurred in Igabi LGA with (4.0 %) incidence of the State. This is the first report of these viruses in triple infection in Kaduna State. Wide spread occurrence of SPCSV calls for effective control of the virus.