Molecular Diversity and Distribution of Whiteflies () in Cassava Fields Across South West and North Central, Nigeria.

Whitefly (Gennadium, Hemiptera) causes severe damage to cassava plants through excessive feeding on leaves and transmitting viruses, such as (ACMV), (EACMV), and ipomoviruses that cause cassava brown streak disease. Currently, little is known about the molecular diversity and distribution of whitefly species in the major cassava-growing zones of Nigeria. This study aimed to address the knowledge gap by assessing the genetic diversity, distribution, and associated cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs) in whiteflies across South West and North Central, Nigeria.

Datasets on agromorphological characters and distribution of cassava (Manihot esculenta L.) accessions cultivated in South-West and North-Central regions of Nigeria.

The data presented here are agronomic indicators of cassava accessions collected during epidemiological surveys of cassava farms across South-West and North-Central Nigeria in 2021-2022. Cassava accessions were obtained from each farm surveyed and initially established in a randomized plot design at the WAVE Covenant University demonstration plot. Agronomic indicators were collected at 3-month intervals following the methods of (Fukuda et al.