Sentinel cassava plants were exposed to high disease pressure in the field to promote root symptom expression. After visual inspection, symptomatic plants were propagated in a screenhouse for a second growth cycle. Molecular analyses, including RT-PCR and HTS, were conducted to identify associated pathogens and investigate their link to cassava frogskin symptoms.
Methodology: Sentinel plants were exposed to high disease pressure for one crop cycle to allow the development of root symptoms. At the end of the exposure period, a visual assessment was conducted to detect cassava frogskin symptoms. Selected plants were propagated and maintained under controlled conditions in a screenhouse for a second growth cycle, allowing the development of storage roots. Collected samples were subjected to molecular analyses, including targeted RT-PCR and HTS, to identify the presence of different pathogens and perform association studies with the observed symptoms.
Cuellar, W.J.; Jimenez Polo, J.; Pardo Garcia, J.M.; Gil Ordoñez, A.; Caicedo Hidalgo, S.M.; Alvarez Quinto, R.A.; Dimitre, M.