Molecular identification of Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus causing mosaic disease of cassava in Nghe An province, Vietnam

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), caused by Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV), was first detected in Tay Ninh province in the southeast region of Vietnam in 2017 and is an emerging threat for cassava production in Vietnam. This study was conducted to characterize the causal agent of CMD in Nghe An province in the north-central region of Vietnam, which is more than 1,200 km away from Tay Ninh province. Genetic relationships between SLCMV isolates indicated that both DNA-A and DNA-B sequences from Nghe An province were identical with the isolates from Tay Ninh province and were highly homologous (>99.7%) with isolates from Cambodia, Thailand and China. This study confirms the gradual spread of SLCMV in Vietnam as an emerging threat to cassava production. In addition, the outcome of this study could help in the timely enforcement of effective management strategies for the cassava mosaic disease in Vietnam.