July 15, 2003
Source: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) Reporting Service 2003, No. 4 [edited]

First report of beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus (rhizomania) in Egypt

The EPPO Secretariat was informed by Professor Abdel-Salam (University of Cairo) that Beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus [BNYVV] (causing rhizomania -- EPPO A2quarantine pest) was found for the first time in Egypt. The virus was detected in some sugarbeet crops in the governorates of El-Fayoum and
Giza. The situation of BNYVV in Egypt can be described as follows: present, reported in 2002 in the governorates of El-Fayoum and Giza.

Source:
Abdel-Salam AM, El-Shazly MA. Occurrence of rhizomania of sugarbeet in Egypt associated with beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus infection. Arab Journal of Biotechnology 2002; 5(1): 135-50 (abstract).

[Rhizomania is caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus (BNYVV), which is transmitted by the soil-inhabiting fungus _Polymyxa betae_. There are 3 pathotypes of the virus (A, B, and P), with P being the most pathogenic. BNYVV infects all types of beet, causing severe damage and reducing root and sugar yields. Once a production field is infested, fungal spores remain viable for up to 30 years. Strict phytosanitary measures must be used to restrict movement of farm equipment from infested fields to virus-free fields. There are apparently no resistant cultivars but some expressing partial resistance have been recently developed. In 2002, France was the leading sugarbeet producer followed by China, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, and USA. - Mod.DH]