Perception of Mealybug Wilt Effect and Management among Pineapple Farmers in Ghana

Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) is a major viral disease of pineapple [Ananas comosus (L) Merr.] in Ghana. Its incidence and extent of damage have not been extensively studied in the country. The study was conducted to determinepineapple farmers’ perception on the effect and management of the MWPdisease in Ghana. Structured interview schedule and questionnaires were used to solicit information from 227 pineapple farmers in the Central and Eastern regions of Ghana. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics into percentage, mean and standard deviation.The majority(73.1%) of the respondents aged between 31 and 50 years and were mainly Senior Secondary or Senior High School leavers (52.2%) who had been growing pineapples between 5 and 20years (82.6%). All respondents indicated that they had experienced the MWP in their pineapple farms and were able to give a vivid description of the disease symptoms. The farmers further indicated that the severity of MWP was high in Smooth cayenne (100%), sugar loaf (96.9%) and Queen Victoria (91.2%) but low in MD2 (%??) varieties of pineapple. More than two-thirds of respondents indicated that they were losing between 1% and 20% of their yield per hectare and up to GHȻ 1000.00 per hectare to the disease. The majority of the respondents manage MWP in their farms by practicing land fallowing, avoiding infected mother plots for suckers, treat soil, mother plots and suckers with insecticides, to destroy mealybug vectors and their ant symbionts

Perception of Mealybug Wilt Effect and Management among Pineapple Farmers in Ghana

Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) is a major viral disease of pineapple [Ananas comosus (L) Merr.] in Ghana. Its incidence and extent of damage have not been extensively studied in the country. The study was conducted to determinepineapple farmers’ perception on the effect and management of the MWPdisease in Ghana. Structured interview schedule and questionnaires were used to solicit information from 227 pineapple farmers in the Central and Eastern regions of Ghana. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics into percentage, mean and standard deviation.The majority(73.1%) of the respondents aged between 31 and 50 years and were mainly Senior Secondary or Senior High School leavers (52.2%) who had been growing pineapples between 5 and 20years (82.6%). All respondents indicated that they had experienced the MWP in their pineapple farms and were able to give a vivid description of the disease symptoms. The farmers further indicated that the severity of MWP was high in Smooth cayenne (100%), sugar loaf (96.9%) and Queen Victoria (91.2%) but low in MD2 (%??) varieties of pineapple. More than two-thirds of respondents indicated that they were losing between 1% and 20% of their yield per hectare and up to GHȻ 1000.00 per hectare to the disease. The majority of the respondents manage MWP in their farms by practicing land fallowing, avoiding infected mother plots for suckers, treat soil, mother plots and suckers with insecticides, to destroy mealybug vectors and their ant symbionts

Farmers Agronomic Practice in Management of the Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) Yellow Leaf Curl Virus in Central Region of Ghana

The study assessed farmers’ awareness of the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) disease and their agronomic and disease management practices in the Efutu municipality, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA), and Mfantseman districts which are leading tomato producing centres in the Central Region of Ghana. The study also surveyed the incidence and severity of the TYLCV disease in tomato fields across the three districts. Household data were collected using structured questionnaire from 150 respondents using multi-stage procedure, and analysed using descriptive statistics. Incidence (DI) and severity index (SI) of TYLCV disease were determined from forty (40) tomato fields selected from each of the three districts. The field data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means separated with least significant difference (l.s.d) method at 5% level of probability.Majority of the farmers (92.6%) were aware of the TYLCVdisease and said it could cause yield losses rangingfrom less than 10% to over 41% but did not know the cause.Majority (60.4%) of the farmers managed the TYLCV disease in their farms mainly by applying insecticides (55.6%) and roguing of diseased plants (43.1%). About 60.7% of the farmers practiced mixed cropping, and most of them cultivated tomato in both the major and minor cropping seasons, using mainly an improved form of Solanum pimpinellifolium. The highest mean disease incidence and mean disease severity indices were recorded at KEEA (52.9±2.7%, 26.89±1.2%), followed by Efutu (49.5±1.19%, 25.29±0.9%), and Mfantseman (42.1±2.7%, 21.41±0.8%) respectively.In conclusion, TYLCV was highly prevalent in the study area, but infection was moderate due to the use of improved tomato variety. Â

Farmers Agronomic Practice in Management of the Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) Yellow Leaf Curl Virus in Central Region of Ghana

The study assessed farmers’ awareness of the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) disease and their agronomic and disease management practices in the Efutu municipality, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA), and Mfantseman districts which are leading tomato producing centres in the Central Region of Ghana. The study also surveyed the incidence and severity of the TYLCV disease in tomato fields across the three districts. Household data were collected using structured questionnaire from 150 respondents using multi-stage procedure, and analysed using descriptive statistics. Incidence (DI) and severity index (SI) of TYLCV disease were determined from forty (40) tomato fields selected from each of the three districts. The field data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means separated with least significant difference (l.s.d) method at 5% level of probability.Majority of the farmers (92.6%) were aware of the TYLCVdisease and said it could cause yield losses rangingfrom less than 10% to over 41% but did not know the cause.Majority (60.4%) of the farmers managed the TYLCV disease in their farms mainly by applying insecticides (55.6%) and roguing of diseased plants (43.1%). About 60.7% of the farmers practiced mixed cropping, and most of them cultivated tomato in both the major and minor cropping seasons, using mainly an improved form of Solanum pimpinellifolium. The highest mean disease incidence and mean disease severity indices were recorded at KEEA (52.9±2.7%, 26.89±1.2%), followed by Efutu (49.5±1.19%, 25.29±0.9%), and Mfantseman (42.1±2.7%, 21.41±0.8%) respectively.In conclusion, TYLCV was highly prevalent in the study area, but infection was moderate due to the use of improved tomato variety. Â

The incidence of Turnip yellows virus in oilseed rape crops (Brassica napus L.) in three different regions of England over three consecutive growing seasons and the relationship with the abundance of flying Myzus persicae

Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) is the most important virus infecting oilseed rape in the UK. The incidence and spatial distribution of TuYV in winter oilseed rape (WOSR) crops in three regions of England was determined over three growing seasons. Leaf samples were collected from three fields in each region, in autumn (November–December) and spring (April) of the three crop seasons and tested for virus presence by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Infection was detected in all fields except one. Higher TuYV incidences were recorded in the 2007–08 (<89%) and 2009–10 (<100%) crop seasons than in 2008–09 (<24%). Highest incidences were recorded in Lincolnshire (<100%), followed by Warwickshire (<88%), with lowest incidences in Yorkshire (1–74%). There was a significant increase in incidence detected between autumn and spring sampling in eight fields, a significant decrease in one field and no significant change in 18 fields. Rothamsted Insect Survey suction trap data for the aphid Myzus persicae in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire revealed two peaks of flight activity in most years (2007–2009). The second peak (September–November) coincided with emergence of WOSR. The highest cumulative (August–November) trap catches in the three regions during the three crop seasons occurred in Lincolnshire and the lowest in Yorkshire; catches in autumn 2009 were highest and lowest in autumn 2008. Regression analysis revealed a highly significant association between the cumulative numbers of M. persicae caught in the suction traps closest to the crops between August and November each year and the incidence of TuYV detected in the WOSR crops in the autumn of each year. Results are discussed in the light of factors affecting the spread of TuYV and future possibilities for control

Brassicaceae : Turnip yellows virus interactions

Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) is the most common and important virus infecting oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in the UK. It causes reductions in growth and seed yield in oilseed rape. Between 2007 and 2010, the prevalence of TuYV in oilseed rape crops in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire was determined; incidences of infection ranged from 0 and 100%. The highest levels of infection were detected in Lincolnshire and the lowest in Yorkshire. Highest incidences were recorded during 2009-10 and the lowest in 2008-9. Incidences of TuYV were closely related to the flight activities Myzus persicae vector. Most fields showed slightly aggregated pattern of infection during autumn but spring sampling revealed more random patterns. Phylogenetic analysis of both nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the P0 and P3 genes of TuYY revealed three and two genetic groups of TuYV respectively, infecting oilseed rape in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire. The P0 gene was more variable than the P3 gene and both were under purifying selection. TuYV populations in the three regions were highly structured with limited gene flow between them. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated 96- 97% of the observed variation was due to the variation between isolates within fields. Three RT-PCR assays were developed to differentiate the three genotypes. They successfully detected and discriminated isolates of the two major genotypes from oilseed rape in Lincolnshire. Twenty seven accessions of a B. napus Diversity Fixed Foundation Set (DFFS) screened for resistance against TuYV infections varied in their susceptibility to the virus. An accession Yudal had partial resistance to some but not all the isolates of the two major genetic groups tested. TuYV caused yield losses of up to 44.7% in a glasshouse experiment. A major QTL for the partial TuYV resistance was detected on chromosome C4 (N14), explaining up to 50.5% of the observed resistance

Brassicaceae : Turnip yellows virus interactions

Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) is the most common and important virus infecting oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in the UK. It causes reductions in growth and seed yield in oilseed rape. Between 2007 and 2010, the prevalence of TuYV in oilseed rape crops in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire was determined; incidences of infection ranged from 0 and 100%. The highest levels of infection were detected in Lincolnshire and the lowest in Yorkshire. Highest incidences were recorded during 2009-10 and the lowest in 2008-9. Incidences of TuYV were closely related to the flight activities Myzus persicae vector. Most fields showed slightly aggregated pattern of infection during autumn but spring sampling revealed more random patterns. Phylogenetic analysis of both nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the P0 and P3 genes of TuYY revealed three and two genetic groups of TuYV respectively, infecting oilseed rape in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire. The P0 gene was more variable than the P3 gene and both were under purifying selection. TuYV populations in the three regions were highly structured with limited gene flow between them. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated 96- 97% of the observed variation was due to the variation between isolates within fields. Three RT-PCR assays were developed to differentiate the three genotypes. They successfully detected and discriminated isolates of the two major genotypes from oilseed rape in Lincolnshire. Twenty seven accessions of a B. napus Diversity Fixed Foundation Set (DFFS) screened for resistance against TuYV infections varied in their susceptibility to the virus. An accession Yudal had partial resistance to some but not all the isolates of the two major genetic groups tested. TuYV caused yield losses of up to 44.7% in a glasshouse experiment. A major QTL for the partial TuYV resistance was detected on chromosome C4 (N14), explaining up to 50.5% of the observed resistance.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGhanaUniversity of Cape CoastGBUnited Kingdo

Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Agromorphological Characteristics of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.)

Cultivation of okra in Ghana is challenged by low yield due to lack of improved varieties. Gamma irradiated okra seeds can generate genetic variability to improve the crop. Samples of 150 seeds, each of okra genotype, UCCC6, were irradiated with 400 Gy to 1000 Gy using cobalt 60 source at a dose rate exposure of 121.58 Gy/hr. There were 40 stands comprising single plant per stand in three replications per treatment in a randomized complete block design outlay. Seedling survival, plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, number of branches, leaf length and width, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits, length and weight of fruit, number of seeds, and 100-seed weight decreased significantly (P≤0.05) with increasing doses of gamma rays. Seedling survival was highest (88%) at 400 Gy, followed by control (81%). However, 600 Gy, 800 Gy, and 1000 Gy had 61%, 41%, and 17% seedling survival, respectively, with LD50 at 720 Gy. Significant (P≤0.05) correlations existed between growth and yield components. Optimum growth and yield in okra were induced by 400 Gy but the higher doses had growth retardation effects and the induced variability can be assessed at M2 generation

Comparative Efficacy of Plant Extracts in Managing Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gen) and Leaf curl Disease in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L)

Abstract Okra leaf curl disease (OLCD) is an important disease responsible for yield losses in okra in all okra growing regions in the world. Effective management of the OLCD is very important in order to improve yield. The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different botanicals in the management of the OLCD. The treatments applied were 10% (w/v) crude extract each of neem leaf, garlic, mahogany bark, chili pepper fruit, pawpaw dried leaf, bougainvillea leaf and the control (water), in a randomised complete block design with four replications. The plant extracts significantly reduced the population of whitefly vector, as well as the incidences and severities of OLCD infections and increased fruit yield compared to the control (P&lt; 0.05). Neem leaf extract followed by garlic extract significantly (P&lt; 0.05) reduced the populations of whitefly and the incidences and severities of OLCD but significantly increased ((P &lt; 0.05) fruit yield compared to crude extracts of mahogany, bougainvillea, chili pepper, and pawpaw leaves. The population of whitefly was positively correlated with severity of OLCD (r = 0.679; P&gt; 0.05). Fruit yield was also negatively correlated with the severity of OLCD (r = -0.857; P&lt; 0.05) and whitefly population (r = -0.750; P&lt; 0.05). Farmers can manage OLCD in their okra fields by spraying with neem leaf or garlic extracts in order to improve fruit yields