Screening of mungbean germplasm against mungbean yellow mosaic India virus and its vector Bemisia tabaci

Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) caused by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) transmitted mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) is an important constraint of mungbean in Pakistan. One hundred sixty-two mungbean genotypes from eight different geographic regions were evaluated for resistance to MYMIV and its whitefly vector B. tabaci. Resistance levels were assessed by visual scoring of symptoms in the field under natural conditions, in net-house by artificial transmission through whitefly and in greenhouse using graft inoculation for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009. None of the tested genotypes was found to be disease free, while considerable variation in responses was observed among the genotypes and testing methods. All genotypes were found to be systemically infected in the field. In 2008, 32 genotypes were found to be resistant and 67 were moderately resistant with severity index (SI) values ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 and from 1.5 to 2.4, respectively. In 2009 34 genotypes were found to be resistant and 38 were moderately resistant with the same SI value ranges as in 2008, and the remaining genotypes were moderately susceptible to highly susceptible. However, only 35 genotypes were found to be moderately resistant with SI values of 1.5–2.4 and latent periods (LP) of 17–21 days when evaluated using artificial transmission through whiteflies. Similar results were obtained when these genotypes were evaluated using graft inoculation. Significant differences in adult whitefly densities among tested genotypes were also observed during both years but no correlation between the number of whiteflies and disease severity was observed. The results indicated that these genotypes did not have a high level of resistance against MYMIV, however, they may provide sources of partial resistance which can be exploited in the breeding programmes to develop mungbean genotypes resistant to MYMD or they can be used directly as varieties to manage MYMD after evaluation for acceptable agronomic characteristics, adaptation and stability in various regions.

► Resistance levels of 164 mungbean genotypes were evaluated against MYMIV and its whitefly vector using natural and artificial inoculation methods.
► All genotypes were found to be systemically infected with virus with considerable variation in responses among the genotypes and testing methods.
► Whitefly and grafting were found to be equally good screening methods but latter was little laborious.
► Thirty-five genotypes were found to be moderately resistant to virus and whitefly showing significant differences for main yield contributing traits.