The research station, Central Agricultural Research Institute located in Suakoko, Bong County, is hosting a flagship research project sponsored by the Central and West Africa Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), to implement virus epidemiology research to identify the presence of cassava mosaic virus and brown streak virus in Liberia.

Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the research project is led by Mr. Daniel Dokie Togba, a plant pathologist situated at CARI, Bong County, and is co-facilitated by Mr. Oliver Tikpeh, a plant pathologist representing the University of Liberia.

Divided into two teams, northeaster and southeaster, collected samples across the country. The southeastern team collected data in Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru, Sinoe, River Cess and Grand Bassa counties, while the northeastern team collected in Margibi, Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi and Montserrado counties.

Cassava is good staple in more part of the world, and Liberia is of no exception, especially when is widely grown and consumed by the nearly entire population in Liberia.

The CARI plant pathologist, who is the focal person of the research project, disclosed that the objective of the research is that since cassava is a main staple in the world, the presence of the virus is a threat to cassava production and to food security in general.

“Cardinal to the objective, to identify and confirm the presence of disease in Liberia. When identified, cassava mosaic virus and cassava brown streak virus, both are transmitted by the vector or carrier, the whitefly.”

With whitefly samples collected from the 15 political subdivisions of Liberia, the lead pathologist, Daniel Dokie Togba, further revealed that the essence of the survey is to also identify cassava growing areas in Liberia, confirm and validate which region is concentrated with cassava, collect information on the varieties of cassava in Liberia, identify some that are resistant, and others that are susceptible varieties.

“Using the Herbarium pressers or pellets, doing the survey, we identify the mosaic symptoms, very mild symptoms, severe symptoms and mild symptoms.”

Mr. Daniel Dokie-Togbah: “Even though the perception had been that West Africa does not have brown streak virus, international protocol demands that field staff should access plant (cassava) from one to six months before beginning the data collection exercise.”

The whitefly, in spite of its color, attacks citrus, and is a pest of many agricultural and ornamental crops.

Commenting on the methodology employed, the focal person narrates that the team prepared pellets called Herbarium pressers, and following the collection of leaves samples, they used chemical to preserve whitefly in a storage tube.

The two groups, comprising of the northeastern and southeaster teams, had four sub teams each. These included two field assistant sub-teams, two whitefly collection sub-teams, two cutting-collection sub-teams, and two community engagement sub-teams.

Citing the project protocol, the CARI plant pathologist indicates that the data samples that are being arranged at CARI research station would be transported to the Ivory Coast for analysis and validation. “When it is proven that both the brown streak and cassava mosaic virus are present in Liberia, this is going to help the community of young scientists in the country to improve the infrastructure constraints because attention would be drawn to construct and equip a molecular laboratory for identification purpose.”

The samples collected are being pressed, using the Herbarium pressers made with a pair of hardboard or plywood boards cut to the same size as the drying paper.

When the data were being collected, labels were attached to the specimen, recording the name of the plant, date of collection, collector, site of collection, and the original source of the plant.

In the laboratory, the pressed samples were further covered with two sheets of blotting paper and a corrugated card. Both bulky and fleshy specimens added a sheet of foam between the blotting paper and the corrugated card.

The team conducted trial of the cassava cuttings by transplanting all the samples on a half hectare. One year on, the team is harvesting tubers.