Small RNA Sequencing for detection of maize lethal necrosis disease causing viruses

Maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND), a viral disease resulting from double infection by Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus (SCMV) is the most devastating viral disease of maize which has impacted negatively to maize production in Kenya. This study aimed to test the prospect of using small RNA transcriptome profiling in the detection of MLND causal viruses and subsequent development of markers for future use in detecting the viruses. Next-generation sequencing of small RNAs (RNA-Seq) from leaf samples of symptomatic plants collected from Bomet, Nyamira and Kericho counties-Kenya, was done using BGIseq500 sequencing platform.