Emergence of begomoviruses and DNA satellites associated with weeds and intercrops: a potential threat to sustainable production of cassava in Côte d'Ivoire

Aya Ange Naté Yoboué ^1,2* Bekanvié S. M. Kouakou ^1,2 Justin Pita ^1,2* Boni N'Zué ³ WILLIAM JEAN-LOUIS AMOAKON ⁴ Kan Modeste Kouassi ^1,2 Linda Patricia L. Vanié-Léabo ^1,2 Nazaire K. Kouassi ^1,2 Fatogoma Sorho ¹ Michel Zouzou ¹

• ¹ Laboratoire de Biotechnologie, Agriculture et Valorisation des Ressources Biologiques, UFR Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
• ² Central and West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
• ³ Centre National de Recherche Agronomique, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
• ⁴ University of Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire

Cassava (Manihot Eesculenta Crantz) plays a major significant role in the livelihoods of people in Africa and specifically , particularly in Côte d'Ivoire. However, its production is threatened by bBegomoviruses which cause huge yield losses. Some weeds and food crops intercropped with cassava are known to beact as reservoirs, thereby favouring facilitating the maintenance sustenance and propagation of Cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs), as well asalong with other begomoviruses. To effectively manage these diseases, it is imperative to enhance our understanding of the various A Bbetter knowledge of alternative hosts of cassava viruses in Côte d'Ivoire. Thus, a comprehensive is essential for the development of effective disease management methods. For this purpose, a nationwide survey was conducted in 2017 in cassava fields in across Côte d'Ivoire, and in 2017 and molecular analyses were performed on the samples collected. The rResults obtained from this survey indicated showed that 65 plant species belonging to 31 families were potential alternative hosts for CMBs in Côte d'Ivoire. The molecular analyses revealed that four species, Capsicum annuum, Solanum a mis en forme : Français (Côte d'Ivoire) a mis en forme : Police :Non Italique, Français (Côte d'Ivoire) a mis en forme : Français (Côte d'Ivoire) melongena, Centrosema pubescens, and Asystasia gangetica were classifiedexhibited differential affinities for both as alternative hosts of African cassava mosaic virus and East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus. Additionally, other, with a differential host affinities.differential hosts affinity. Other begomoviruses and new alpha satellites were identified. Soybean chlorotic blotch virus was isolated from C.entrosema pubescens while West African Asystasia virus 1, West African Asystasia virus 2, and a new Asystasia yellow mosaic alphasatellite were isolated from A.systasia gangetica which appears to be a plant species that could favour the emergence of new viral species harmful to cassava cultivation. This study offers insights that will inform the development of provides important knowledge to aid in developing more effective control methods for sustainable cassava production in Côte d'Ivoire.This study contributes important knowledge that will contribute to more effective control methods to ensure sustainable production of cassava in Côte d'Ivoire.