Many plant virus diseases that have either newly emerged or expanded their distribution in the last two decades are causing tremendous crop losses to Ethiopian agriculture. The eight most significant of these are maize lethal necrosis (MLN), sweet potato virus (SPV), tobacco bushy top (TBT), tomato yellow leaf curl, legume stunt, faba bean necrotic yellows and stunt, enset leaf streak and cabbage mosaic diseases. MLN, SPV and TBT diseases are caused by synergistic interaction of at least two viruses while others are caused by single virus infection. Insect vectors transmit all the causal viruses. Five of the viruses involved namely Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus, Enset leaf streak virus, Ethiopian tobacco bushy top virus, Faba bean necrotic stunt virus and Faba bean yellow leaf virus are described and reported for the first time from Ethiopia. These new viruses have likely co-evolved with their hosts in Ethiopia. On the other hand, viruses previously known elsewhere such as Maize chlorotic mottle virus may have been introduced to the country by either germplasm import, seed trade or other means. If the causal virus and its mode of field spread are understood, disease control practices used elsewhere can be adapted and recommendation can be made accordingly. However, for efficient and sustainable management based on integrated approach, local studies on epidemiological parameters are necessary.
