Nghe An tests new cassava variety resistant to mosaic disease

Cassava mosaic disease has the scientific name Sri Lanka Cassava Mosaic Virus. The disease is transmitted by whiteflies and cuttings taken from diseased plants. This is a very dangerous disease and difficult to prevent. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The typical recognizable symptom of cassava mosaic disease is mottled yellow mosaic on the leaves. Mild damage causes no deformation, or mild deformation. Severe damage causes cassava leaves to curl, bend, wrinkle and cause the plant to gradually die. Photo: Hoai Thu

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh's household in Hoi 3 hamlet, Hoi Son commune (Anh Son) has been growing cassava for more than 6 years now. According to Mr. Thanh, compared to corn, cassava is more economically efficient, has lower input costs, and has a purchasing factory so there is no worry about stagnant sales. However, in the past 2 years, cassava mosaic disease has appeared and spread widely, causing productivity to drop sharply. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh, a cassava grower in Hoi 3 hamlet, Hoi Son commune (Anh Son) said: "This spring, my family's 6 sao of cassava are all infected with mosaic disease. If before, 1 sao yielded over 2 tons, now, when cassava is infected with mosaic disease, the yield has decreased to about 1-1.2 tons." Photo: Hoai Thu

Currently, the entire Hoi Son commune has 70 hectares of raw cassava with 200 households growing it, most of which are infected with mosaic disease. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Master Phan Duy Hai - Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection explained: There are two ways to transmit cassava mosaic disease, which are from cuttings and whiteflies. For cuttings, the virus exists in the cassava stem, leaves, and tubers, so when using cassava stems as seeds for the next crop, the virus will continue to multiply in the cuttings and curl the leaves as soon as the plant sprouts... Therefore, the most effective measure to overcome cassava mosaic disease is to replace it with new, disease-free and disease-resistant cassava varieties. Photo: Thanh Phuc

These cassava varieties are imported from the southern provinces to support local people in experimental planting. Photo: Hoai Thu

Currently, new, disease-free and disease-resistant cassava varieties such as KM94, HN1, HN5 are being tested in the following localities: Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, Nam Dan. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to initial assessment, the new cassava variety grows well and is disease-free. In the coming time, when its productivity and quality are confirmed, it will be widely propagated and planted to replace the old cassava variety. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In addition, the model of growing cassava covered with plastic is also being applied in many localities. Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy - agricultural officer of Hoa Son cassava starch processing factory (Anh Son) said: "Growing cassava covered with plastic will limit leaf mosaic disease. In particular, growing cassava covered with plastic saves care work such as weeding, shortens the time to harvest cassava, compared to normal cassava cultivation, the yield is doubled. The starch content of cassava grown covered with plastic is also higher". Photo: Hoai Thu

Clip: Phuc - Thu

Source: https://baonghean.vn/nghe-an-trong-thu-nghiem-giong-san-moi-khang-benh-kham-la-post287994.html