Sorghum mosaic disease: Epidemiology, transmission, and management challenges of sorghum mosaic caused by sorghum mosaic virus in tropical agricultural systems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14295/bjs.v5i9.900Keywords:
sorghum mosaic virus, sorghum, viral epidemiology, aphids, integrated managementAbstract
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a crop of major relevance for food security, animal production, and bioenergy, particularly due to its high tolerance to water deficit and adaptability to adverse environmental conditions. However, its productivity is significantly constrained by viral diseases, among which sorghum mosaic, caused by Sorghum mosaic virus, stands out as one of the most economically important. In this context, this study aimed to critically review the epidemiology, transmission mechanisms, and management challenges associated with SrMV in tropical agricultural systems. This work was conducted as a qualitative literature review, based on a systematic search of scientific articles, books, dissertations, theses, and technical reports published between 2020 and 2025, retrieved from national and international scientific databases. The findings indicate that SrMV, a member of the genus Potyvirus, exhibits high genetic variability, which enhances its adaptive potential and contributes to its widespread distribution. The virus is primarily transmitted by aphids in a non-persistent manner, with epidemiological dynamics strongly influenced by tropical environmental conditions, the abundance of alternative host plants, and the continuous presence of susceptible grass species in cropping systems. Disease management is largely dependent on preventive and integrated strategies, including the deployment of resistant cultivars, effective vector control, eradication of inoculum sources, and the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Overall, the study highlights that a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiological behavior and transmission biology of SrMV is essential for the development of sustainable and effective management strategies, thereby supporting the stability and productivity of sorghum-based cropping systems in tropical regions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Osvaldo Mascarenhas Neto, Alinne Crisóstomo de Moraes, Cláudio Roberto da Silva Júnior, Hellen Dias Neres, Jéssica Tatielle Martins Freitas, José Saraiva Lucena Júnior, Rian Freitas Veríssimo, Sophy Louise Lassance Dantas, Antonio Carlos Pereira de Menezes Filho
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