Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease of coconut in Ghana: surveillance and management of disease spread

The Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease (CSPWD), a lethal-yellowing type disease of coconut has been in Ghana since 1932. Aerial and/or ground surveys were undertaken to assess the current status of the disease spread. The survey showed that the spread of the disease for the past 5 years has mainly been the expansion of existing foci. However, new outbreaks were identified at Glidzi in the Volta, Bawjiase and Efutu Breman in Central regions. After the resurgence in the Volta region in 1995, the Woe-Tegbi-Dzelukope corridor has remained endemic, but less aggressive. Pockets of healthy groves remain along all the coastline and inland of known disease zones. Eradication of diseased palms at Ampain focus lying just about 60 km to the Ivorian border, and disease situations on new replanting with MYD × VTT hybrid are discussed. (Résumé d'auteur

Identification of potential insect vectors of the Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease of coconut in Ghana by PCR

The vector of the phytoplasma responsible for the coconut lethal yellowing disease in West Africa is unknown to date. However, it is known that phytoplasmas are transmitted by leafhoppers and planthoppers, which are supposed to be the only ones able to inject the phytoplasma in the phloem. Whereas the presence of phytoplasma in the insect does not prove its capacity to transmit the disease. We have tested a large number of insects for the presence of phytoplamas by PCR (direct PCR and Nested PCR) using both primer pairs specific for all phytoplasmas and those specific for the coconut lethal yellowing disease phytoplasma. In effect the evidence of one or several species carrying the phytoplasma would direct us on the insects to focus on in our transmission cages trials. (Résumé d'auteur

New data on a cultural control method against coconut lethal yellowing in Ghana

Lethal yellowing disease has been rife in West Africa, especially Ghana, since 1932. In the 1990s, the first operations to fell diseased coconut palms at an early stage showed that this substantially slowed down the spread of the disease. Trial conducted in 1995 showed that early felling of diseased coconut palms, even without prior treatment, considerably slowed down the spread of the disease. Replications of this action in several other plots kept them healthy for many years. These positive results made it possible to obtain funding from Agence française de Développement (AFD) to maintain a "sanitary cordon" in the far West of the Western Region of Ghana, near the Ivorian border, where there is a wide area of coconut palms. (Résumé d'auteur