The identification, incidence and control of sweet potato viruses in East and South Africa and assessment of host plant resistance for sustainable development

PROPOSAL: ICA4-2000-30007 ACRONYM SWEET POTATO VIRUSES
AREA: FP5 - INCO2, 5/ unknown KeyAction Call number / date: -
PROJECT TYPE: Shared Cost EU CONTRIBUTION: 974490
STARTING DATE: 2000-10-01 DURATION: 36 months

Coordinator: Dr. J. Buckler, Natural Resources International Ltd., Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, UK -ME4 4TB, Chatham, United Kingdom, Email: ? j.buckler@gre.ac.uk

Project Description:
Sweet potato is a major staple food in Africa. The proposed work surveys sweet potato crops in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa using methods, which seek both known and unknown viruses. Novel viruses and variants of known viruses will be identified and characterised and diagnostic methods will be developed. The yield effects and symptoms of each virus on local Ugandan, Kenyan and South African sweet potato varieties will be recorded; resistance will be sought. The impact of virus disease on the livelihoods of farmers and the potential role of resistance will be assessed. Sweet potato chlorotic stunt, common in Africa, is unusual in that it breaks resistance of sweet potato to at least two other important viruses; the molecular basis and range of this synergism will be elucidated. Training to PhD level will be provided to 3 African students and links UK, German, Swedish, Kenyan, Ugandan and S African institutes.

Project URL: not known

Consortium:
Co-ordinator: Contact Person: Buckler, John (Dr) Department: Natural Resources Institute Organisation: Natural Resources International Limited Central Avenue ME4 4TB CHATHAM UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44-1634-883244 Fax: +44-1634-883937 j.buckler@gre.ac.uk Participants Contact Person: GICHAGA, Francis (Professor) Department: DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE Organisation: University of Nairobi PO Box 30197 2 NAIROBI KENYA Contact Person: SSEBUWUFU, John (Professor) Department: DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE Organisation: Makerere University PO Box 7062 UGANDA Contact Person: VAN ZYL, Hendrik Jacabus (Dr) Department: ROODEPLAAT VEGETABLE AND ORNAMENTAL PLANT INSTITUTE Organisation: Agricultural Research Council X1 KwaMhlanga-Moloto Road (R573) 0001 PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA Contact Person: RAGNARSDOTTER, Ingrid (Mrs) Department: DEPARTMENT OF PLANT BIOLOGY Organisation: The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 1-31 GenetikVagen 1-31 750 07 UPPSALA SWEDEN Contact Person: GÜNDERMANN, G. (Dr) Department: INSTIUTE OF PLANT VIROLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOSAFETY Organisation: Biologische Bundesanstalt fur Land- und Forstwirtschaft Messeweg 11/12 38104 BRAUNSCHWEIG GERMANY


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