Role of potyviruses in synergistic interaction leading to maize lethal necrotic disease on maize

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied SciencesSynergistic interactions among pathogenic viruses are common in plants. Though not all, but a number of reported cases involving such interactions have a potyvirus partner during co-infection. The presence of the potyvirus group seems to favor its own multiplication on host and multiplication of a co-infecting partner. In this review, some characteristics favoring higher pathogenesis have been discussed using maize lethal necrosis (MLN)- causing viruses namely Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and its synergistic potyvirus, Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). A comprehensive discussion on the role of potyvirus in the synergism has been presented to show that in MLN and similar synergisms - the machinery for induction, transmission and colonization of the host is catalysed by the potyvirus and not the co-infecting viral partner which otherwise seems to be the most virulent in the synergism-based diseases such as MLN disease in maize. Furthermore, the effect of MLN to food security and areas for future research for Africa has been discussed in this review