Genetic Diversity and Geographic Distribution of Maize Streak Virus in Kenya

Abstract

Maize streak virus (MSV) is one of the most important pathogens responsible for poor maize yields in Africa. For over the past 50 years, the MSV-A1 genotype has continually been moving back and forth between southern and eastern Africa and from East to West Africa. Despite Kenya being a maize producing country, very little is known of its MSV genetic diversity and geographical distribution of the circulating variants. In this study, a sampling survey was undertaken in the farmers’ fields to collect MSV prevalence and symptom severity, where a total of 178 complete MSV genomes were sequenced from both grass and maize. Both phylogenetic and phylogenetic tools were used to illustrate the genetic diversity and geographical distribution. The results showed that the MSVA lineages had a distinct but overlapping geographical distributions in the country and noticeable relationship between the MSV symptom severity and the percentage infectivity. Keywords: Genetic distribution, geographical distribution, Kenya, Maize streak virus, Mastrevirus