ABSTRACT:

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) is an important leguminous crop in the Tropics because of its high protein and oil content which are essential for human nutrition. It is also a raw material for use in industries. The crop is susceptible to infection by several viruses, which substantially reduce its yield and quality. This study reviewed ten genera and twelve important soybean viruses with their symptoms, insect vectors, modes of transmission, distribution across regions and the approach to control measures. The most important virus of soybean disease is the genus potyvirus which is associated with four diseases of soybean. However, the other nine genera: Comovirus, carlavirus, begomovirus, nepovirus, letouvirus, alfamovirus, illarvirus, cucumovirus and tospovirus can cause significant yield losses of about 15 % in the field. This review showed that Soybean Mosaic Virus (SMV) and Bean Pod Mottle Virus (BPMV) are the most widely distributed viruses of soybean causing debilitating damages accounting for 8 % to 94 % yield losses in several regions of the world. Control of these economically important viruses should include the use of resistant varieties of soybean, control of insect vectors and maintaining high planting density to reduce the occurrence of virus epidemics on the field.