Twelve cultivars of groundnut were screened in field trials for resistance to groundnut rosette disease (GRD), caused by
coinfection with Groundnut rosette assistor virus (GRAV), Groundnut rosette virus (GRV), and its
satellite RNA in the coastal savannah of Ghana. 'Oboshie' groundnut was rated as highly resistant; 'Bremaowuo', 'Nkatefufuo', and 'Behenase' as resistant; and 'Nkosuor', 'Kumawu', and 'Otuhia' as moderately resistant. GRAV
infection rates of 11.8 to 61.8% (dry season) and 13.9 to 100% (wet season) were found, which included symptomless plants, suggesting that some lacked
coinfection with GRV and its satellite. Chlorotic ringspot and line-pattern symptoms were observed, suggesting
infection with Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV). Virus identity was confirmed by
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and amplicon sequencing. This is the first report of GRSV in Ghana. GRSV
infection rates were 0.0 to 69.5% (dry season) and 26.1 to 69.5% (wet season).
Mixed infections of GRAV and GRSV were common in all cultivars except Nkosuor and Bremaowuo in the dry season. Most cultivars graft inoculated with GRD showed significantly reduced height, leaf area,
chlorophyll content, dry haulm weight, and seed yield compared with healthy plants. The sources of resistance to GRD and possibly GRAV and GRSV identified in this study could be exploited in groundnut breeding programs.