Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Jatropha mosaic virus (JMV) is a significant pathogen affecting Jatropha curcas L., an important biofuel crop in Nigeria. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, distribution, and alternative hosts of JMV in selected northwestern states of Nigeria. Field surveys were conducted in Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Zamfara states to assess the presence of JMV in Jatropha plants. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected and tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for JMV detection. The results showed that JMV was present in all four states, with varying incidence rates ranging from 35% to 72%. Furthermore, a survey of alternative host plants growing near Jatropha fields was conducted to identify potential reservoirs of JMV. Common weed species and crops such as Amaranthus hybridus, Solanum nigrum, and Capsicum annuum were found to harbor JMV, suggesting their role as alternative hosts. Molecular characterization of the JMV isolates using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed the presence of the virus in both Jatropha and the identified alternative hosts. Spatial analysis was performed to determine the distribution pattern of JMV in the study area. Geographical information system (GIS) mapping revealed that JMV incidence was higher in certain regions within the states, indicating localized spread of the virus. Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity were also considered in assessing the factors influencing JMV distribution. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the occurrence, distribution, and alternative hosts of Jatropha mosaic virus in northwestern Nigeria. The identification of alternative host plants highlights the importance of implementing integrated disease management strategies to control the spread of JMV in Jatropha plantations. The spatial analysis findings offer a basis for targeted surveillance and management efforts to mitigate the impact of JMV on Jatropha production in the region. Future research directions may include investigating the genetic diversity of JMV isolates and evaluating the effectiveness of different control measures in containing the spread of the virus.

Thesis Overview

1.1 Background to the Study

Jatropha curcas L.often referred to as „Jatropha‟is one of the prospective oil-yielding plantswith vast industrial potential as bio-diesel (Jayanna, 2006). The seeds can be pressed into bio-oil that has good characteristics for direct combustion in compressed ignition engines or for the production of bio-diesel (Putten et al., 2010). The bio-oil can also be a raw material for soap making. The pressed residue of the seeds (pressed cake) is a good fertilizer and can also be used for bio-gas production. Jatropha curcas grows under subtropical conditions and can withstand conditions of severe drought and low soil fertility. It is capable of growing in marginal soil, and it can help to reclaim problematic lands. It is not a forage crop, hence, it plays an important role in deterring cattle as the leaves are not palatable, and thereby, protecting other valuable food or cash crops when used in fencing (Putten et al., 2010). Current interest by farmers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Jatropha curcas is mainly due to its potential as an energy crop.

Jatropha curcas grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions, with cultivation limits at 30ºNand 35ºS (FACT, 2007). It also grows in lower altitudes of 0-500 meters above sea level. It is not sensitive to day length (flowering is independent of latitude) and may flower at any time of the year (Heller, 1996). It is a succulent shrub that sheds its leaves during the dry season, with deep roots that make it well suited to semi-arid conditions. While Jatropha can survive with as little as 250 to 300 mm of annual rainfall, at least 600 mm is needed for flowering and fruit setting (FACT, 2007). The optimum rainfall for seed production is considered between 1000 and 1500 mm (FACT, 2007), which corresponds to sub-humid ecology. Higher precipitation is likely to cause fungal attack and restrict root growth in all but the most free-draining soils (cited by Achten, 2008).Jatropha curcas is not found in the more humid parts of its area of origin, Central America and Mexico. Rainfall induces flowering and, in areas of unimodal rainfall, flowering is continuous throughout most of the year (FACT 2007). Optimum temperatures are between 20ËšC and 28ËšC. Very high temperatures can depress yields (Gour, 2006). Jatropha curcas is intolerant of frost. The plant is well adapted to conditions of high light intensity (Baumgaart, 2007) and is unsuited to growing in shade.

Insect pests and diseases pose a significant threat to Jatropha curcas. Observations of free-standing older trees would appear to confirm this, but incidence of insect pests and diseases is widely reported under monoculture plantation, and may be of economic significance. The Jatropha curcas plants suffer from several diseases, which include damping off, root rot,leaf spots, frog-eye leaf spot, powdery mildew and Jatropha mosaic virus disease. Observed diseases, such as collar rot, leaf spots, root rot and damping-off, may be controlled with a combination of cultural techniques (for example, avoiding waterlogged conditions) and fungicides (Achten, 2008). Jatropha multifida is a known host of African cassava mosaic virus as well as a possible source of transmission of the cassava super-elongation diseasecaused by Sphaceloma manihoticola (Achten, 2008).

The family Geminiviridae comprises of a group of plant infecting circular ssDNA viruses that severely constrain agricultural production throughout the World, and a particular serious threat to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide, they are responsible for a considerable amount of economic damage to many crops such as cassava, sweet potato, tomatoes, cowpea, okra, cotton, grain legumes and now Jatropha curcas (Fauquet et al., 2008).

Geminiviruses are distinct in having circular, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genomes that are encapsidated within twinned icosahedral virions. Displaying substantial diversity in terms of their primary nucleotide sequences, genome structures, host ranges and insect vectors, the family Geminiviridae has been divided into seven different genera. Besides the Begomoviruses, these include the genera Mastrevirus, Curtovirus, and Topocuvirus (Fauquet et al., 2008) and three additional genera Becurtovirus, Eragrovirus and Turncurtovirus (Varsani et al., 2014).

The genus Begomovirus with over one hundred and ninety two recognized species, contains more species than all the other geminivirus genera combined (Fauquet et al., 2008; Brown et al., 2011). Whereas begomoviruses are generally considered to be either monopartite (onessDNA component) or bipartite (two circular ssDNA components called DNA-A and DNA-B), many apparently monopartite begomoviruses are associated with additional subviral ssDNA satellite components, called alpha- (DNA-1/α) or betasatellites (DNA-β) (Marie et al., 2012). Geminiviruses are often associated with sub-viral agents called DNA satellitesthat require proteins encoded by the helper virus for their replication, movement and encapsidation. Hitherto, most of the single-stranded DNA satellites reported to be associated with members of the family Geminiviridae have been associated with monopartite begomoviruses. These satellite molecules completely lack sequence identity to their helper viruses and depend on the helper virus for all or some of the following functions: replication, movement, encapsidation and transmission. Satellite molecules were initially reported to be associated with RNA viruses; these satellites are very well characterized (Simon et al., 2004). In the last decade, more than 500 satellite sequences associated with begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) have been isolated from a diverse range of cultivated crops and weeds (Briddon and Stanley, 2006; Briddon et al., 2008).

Alphasatellites are 1.3 kb nanovirus-like components that, in some cases, suppress viral disease symptoms. Although alphasatellites encode a replication associated protein, they depend on the helper virus encoded proteins for movement and encapsidation (Briddon and Stanley, 2006; Nawaz-ul-Rehman and Fauquet, 2009). Betasatellites are a diverse set of symptom-enhancing, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules that are 1.3 kb in size and only associated with monopartite begomoviruses from the Old World (OW), namely Asia and Africa (Briddon et al., 2001, 2003, 2008). Most recently, betasatellites have been found associated with a few bipartite begomoviruses (Rouhibakhsh and Malathi, 2005).

Cook in 1931 described the occurrence of Jatropha mosaic disease for the first time in Puerto Rico (USA). Jatropha mosaic virus was first reported on Jatropha gossypiifolia (Bird, 1957) as a euphorbiaceous weed prevalent throughout the West Indies. Several viruses have been found to affect Jatropha curcas. Kashina et al. (2013) reported a complete nucleotide sequence of a begomovirus (Jatropha Mosaic Nigerian Virus) naturally infecting Jatropha curcas in Nigeria which is a threat to the realization of the full potential of thecrop. The symptoms observed were severe mosaic, mottling and blistering of leaves. Pair-wise comparisons of DNA-A sequences showed that Jatropha mosaic virus had maximum nucleotide sequence identity (72 %) with a strain of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus. Ramkat et al. (2011) reported the occurrence of cassava geminiviruses on Jatropha curcas grown in Kenya. Raj et al. (2008a) reported the incidence of Cucumber mosaic virus on Jatropha curcas in India. Snehi et al. (2008) identified a new begomovirus on J. gossypifolia in India.

1.2 Justification of the study

The crude oil crisis of the 1970s and the subsequent shortages of petrol-fuels in the world market have brought to light the limitations of world oil resources (Grimm, 1996; Heller, 1996; Henning, 2000; Pratt et al., 2002). Currently, the world is faced with critical fuel shortages accompanied with high prices, as well as, the global warming issue. This has prompted government, scientists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to search for alternative sources of energy, which are renewable and environmentally safe. In this regard, renewable vegetable fuels have assumed top priority. Special interest has been shown in the cultivation of the tropical physic nut (Jatropha curcas L., Euphorbiaceae) for oil extraction (Grimm 1996; Heller 1996).Worldwide, Jatropha is gaining more prominence considering its potential as an energy and biofuel crop. Although much of this potential has not been harnessed fully in Nigeria, elsewhere it has been demonstrated that the crop can help solve many problems ranging from land reclamation, bio-diesel production and protection of valuable crops such as cash or food crops from cattle (Jayanna, 2006). The potential yield, quality and value of the croparelowered by pest attack reducing the quality of seeds produced, thereby, affecting its potential of fulfilling the promise of an energy crop. Recently, virus diseases have posed a great threat to the crop‟s potential due to their insidious nature, which usually results in the development of epidemics, if not managed properly.