Okra or Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench, is a flowering plant composed of edible green seed pods [1] . The Malvaceae Familly, okra is a vegetable native to West and Central Africa [2] .

The Geminiviridae family is composed of small circular ssDNA viruses, encapsidated within virions, with geminate morphology, and known to cause diseases in crop plants across the world [3] .

Cultivated okra is recognized to be susceptible to a multiple number of begomovirus-like mosaic virus diseases and others. These others could be responsible viruses such as Yellow vein mosaic disease (OYVMV), Okra leaf curl disease (OLCV), and Okra enation leaf curl disease (OELCuV), CLCuGV, and CYCrV which are potentially transmitted in the field by the whitefly [4] - [8] .

Most geminiviruses are in the genus Begomovirus [9] .

Begomovirus infects primarily dicotyledonous plants and the transmission is done by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci [10] [11] . Transmission is mainly by whitefly [12] , and infection increases as the number of whiteflies increases. Symptoms appear 8 to 12 days after infection [3] .

OLCD is an important viral disease characterized by leaf curling either upward or downward, mostly associated with plant stunting. Caused by viruses of the genus Begomovirus, and affects the culture of Okra in terms of yield and fruit quality in tropical and subtropical areas [13] [14] .

In most African countries, Okra leaf curl disease (OLCD) is considered the most serious disease menacing okra production [14] . Infection usually occurs at an early stage in the crop [15] . The age of the seedlings plays an important role in the acquisition of infection. It is highest between 7 and 15 days of seeding [3] .

OYVMV is one of the most devastating and widespread viruses in the okra fields, transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.), which is the most troublesome pest of many crops in the world [16] . Kulkarni initially reported the virus in Mumbai, India in 1924. Yadav et al. reported that the okra Leaf curl disease can cause significant yield losses. The losses of yield are more important among plants infected at an early stage [17] . The virus is responsible for 80% - 90% of yield losses and it affects all the developmental stages of okra plants. In Ghana, Africa, more than 50% of disease incidence in okra farms has been reported [16] .

Usually, viral infections are controlled by vector control. Controlling whitefly populations and/or treating seedlings with phytopesticides are just some of the ways to avoid infection by the okra Leaf curl virus [18] . It has been reported that controlling whitefly populations is the best measure against okra Leaf curl disease [18] .

Near Bamako, Mali, typical symptoms of begomovirus infection, such as yellow veining, leaf yellowing, crinkling, and cupping, were observed in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) variety trials. After sequence analysis, the disease was caused by a distinct begomovirus named Okra Yellow Vein Crinkle Disease (OYVCrD) [19] . This study aimed to identify and characterize begomoviral infection by molecular method from okra plants with OLCD plus the mosaic symptoms in Koulikoro, Mali.

At the left, the PCR product shows Okra-F318/Okra-R1004 which amplified 700 bp with samples B1, C3, D3, E3, E4, and E5 positive; B2, B3, and B4 were negative; NC negative control and PC positive control to the assay; Marq-100 molecular weigh (100 bp). At the right, Okra-1469/Okra-R2338 which amplified 900 bp with B1, D3, E3, and E5 positive, B2, B3, B4, C1, and C3 were negative respectively. NC negative control and PC positive control to the assay; Marq-100 molecular weight (100 bp).

Symptoms were mainly mosaic and leaf curl. We found mixed infections.

The genome highlighted in red corresponds to the sequence of this study. The phylogeographic analysis of the sequences using BLAST tools showed that the viruses isolated in Mali are mostly similar to those from Burkina Faso (Figure 2).

Among the samples collected from different areas of Koulikoro, 13 samples have been positive for serological tests. PCR was successfully applied for begomoviral detection in these symptomatic serological positive samples with fragments of approximately 900 bp, 700 bp (see Figure 1), 470 bp, and 327 bp (the figure does not show). The result obtained was expected, the band of products PCR was properly visible on the agarose gel after electrophoresis (Figure 1).

These PCR product fragments found in this study corroborate those of Tiendrebeogo et al. (2010) [14] ; Tiendrebeogo, (2014) [21] , and Naresh et al. (2019) [20] who have carried out similar work on okra begomoviruses.

In this study, we have evaluated the possibility of okra leaves being infected by several types of viruses. We first tested okra leaves serologically for okra mosaic virus. PCR was used to identify the viruses responsible for okra leaf disease. In the present study, PCR was used to identify the begomoviruses BYVMV and OELCuV.

This study showed that 46% (6/13) of samples were positive for begomovirus-specific primers, 23% (3/13) for BYVMV, and 23% (3/13) for OELCuV respectively (Table 3).

In the identification process of the viruses infecting okra leaves, we found in the same DNA extracts begomovirus plus BYVMV and OELCuV. This is the first time that these two viral species infecting okra leaves (BYVMV and OELCuV) have been reported in Mali, and they may be responsible for a major threat to okra production.

Tiendrébéogo et al. (2010) [14] reported that the effect of okra leaf curl disease is greater in local okra seed crops with an overall considerable yield loss, ranging from 68.5% to 72.5% in Burkina Faso compared to commercial seed crops from 8.7% to 16.2%. The effect of the disease on local okra seed crops was

observed by a 58% reduction in growth compared to 39.6% for commercial ones [14] .

We found mixed infections with the virus responsible for enrolment and yellow vein mosaic of leaves, with the other viruses investigated in this study accounting for 23% (3/13) (Table 3). Tiendrébéogo et al. (2010) [14] , reported major symptoms such as leaf curl found in this study.

The sequenced sample was 90% identified with 5% gaps using the NCBI BLAST tool with a higher similarity to Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus from Burkina Faso. Thus, we used BLAST NCBI, which showed similarity with Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus from different geographical areas Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger (Figure 2).

NEG: Negative POS: Positive.

*: begemovirus + BYVMV + OELCuV.

The bogomovirus was also found associated with the Okra curl disease and CLCuGV (Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus) in Burkina Faso [14] .

In this study, the sequenced sample showed a very high similarity to CLCuGV. This suggests a permanent circulation in the fields where the samples were collected. It is also important to note that cotton is also well-grown in these fields during the rainy season.

Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus has been reported in several African countries, including Burkina Faso [23] , Niger [24] , Côte d’Ivoire [25] , and Sudan [26] .

This study is the first of its kind, with all activities from collection to sequencing analysis carried out in Mali. The okra leaf curl disease (OLCD) is present in the agroecological zone of Koulikoro, Mali. These molecular results highlight the complex causes of okra leaf curl disease in Mali and suggest future investigations.

Thank you to Valérie Verdier of IRD—France and Professor Daouda Koné of UFHB in Abidjan—Côte d’Ivoire for their support.

This research didn’t receive grants from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Keita, G.K., Kansaye, L., Doumbia, L., Keita, I., Sangare, M., Sinayoko, T., Macalou, B., Maiga, M.N., Sanogo, N.P. and Koita, O. (2023) Molecular Identification and Characterization of a Begomovirus Associated with Okra Enation Leaf Curl Disease in Mali. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 14, 429-438. https://doi.org/10.4236/abb.2023.1410029