Cassava mosaic virus is a plant disease that affects cassava plants, a major food crop in many African countries. The disease is caused by a virus that is transmitted by whiteflies and causes severe damage to the plant, including stunted growth, yellowing of leaves, and reduced yields.
To control cassava mosaic virus, several strategies can be employed. However, the most effective strategy is to grow resistant varieties of cassava that are less susceptible to the virus. These varieties have been developed through breeding programs and are now widely available to farmers.
Other methods of controlling the virus include treating stem cuttings with hot water or insecticides to kill any viruses that may be present, and spraying with insecticides to control the whiteflies that transmit the virus. However, these methods are less effective than growing resistant varieties and may have negative environmental impacts.
Spraying of fungicides is not an effective method of controlling cassava mosaic virus because the disease is caused by a virus, not a fungus. Inoculation of the plant is also not a viable control strategy because it involves intentionally infecting the plant with the virus, which would only make the problem worse. Therefore, the correct answer is "growing resistant varieties."