First occurrence of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus on chickpea in Algeria

Chickpea is one of the major legume crops in the northern parts of Algeria, with 60 000 ha sown. The different viral diseases observed on this crop are partially responsible for the low yields obtained. Of the viruses involved, bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV), associated with ‘narrow-leaf disease, has been identified in the central parts of the country since 1994. The host range was screened and found to include species of Fabaceae, Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae. Three aphid species (Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis craccivora and Aulacorthum solani) have been shown to transmit the virus. Two chickpea cultivars (ILC 3279 and ILC 482) carry BYMV in the seed cotyledons. The virus has been purified, antiserum has been produced and electrophoretic analysis has been conducted.