DETECTION OF Ipomeea hederaceae AS ALTERNATIVE HOST OF SWEET POTATO FEATHERY MOTTLE VIRUS ON SWEET POTATO PLANT (IPOMOEA BATATAS  L.) IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Field surveys were conducted in June 2016 wet and November 2017 dry seasons to determine the incidence of alternative hosts of sweet potato viruses in (6) Local Government Areas of Kaduna State namely; Giwa, Kudan, Soba, Igabi, Kachia and Zango-Kataf. One hundred and eight weed samples within and around the farms were collected in both seasons; Fourteen weeds were identified in wet season while 9 weeds were identified in dry season. Three viruses were tested; Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) and Sweet potato virus (SPV2). The weeds were identified and found to belong to (15) plant families. SPCSV was tested using Triple Antibody Sandwich Enzyme Link Immunosorbent Assay (TAS- ELISA) while Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme Link Immunosorbent Assay (DAS- ELISA) was used for the detection of SPFMV and SPV2. From the ELISA results, three samples were positive to SPFMV (10, 15 and 20%), two samples were positive to SPV2 (15 and 25%) and three samples were positive to SPCSV (20, 10 and 5%) in wet season. In dry season, two samples tested positive to SPV2 (24 and 16%), and three samples were positive to SPFMV (14, 21, and 25%). None of the weeds tested positive to SPCSV. Weed that was identified and detected on sweet potatoes in both seasons was Morning glory Ipomoea hederacea L. family Convolvulaceae and it was found to be the alternative host to SPFMV. The detection of Ipomoea hederacea L. as alternative host have widen the knowledge on viral inoculum. This will help to prevent the spread of the virus.