A Note on the Effect of Yellow Blotch Virus on Yield of Sunflower in Kenya

Abstract

Martens et al. (1970) reported diseases of sunflower in Kenya, and described a rugose mosaic disease which they suspected to be caused by a virus. This was confirmed to be so by Singh (1979) who showed that in addition to being mechanically transmissible, the virus was also aphid-transmitted and distributed throughout Kenya, with the highest incidence occurring in Eastern, Coast, and Central Provinces in warm areas below 1500m. The virus was named sunflower yellow blotch virus (SYBV). It induces a more severe leaf crinkling symptom with which is associated plant stunting and poor or no seed set.