Preliminary Evaluation of Pests and Diseases Status of Improved Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Genotypes in High Humid Agroecology of Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70110/ogsj.v5i1.104Keywords:
Cassava, Diseases, Improved genotypes, PestAbstract
Background: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a major staple crop in southeastern Nigeria, contributing significantly to food security and income generation. Despite its resilience, production is constrained by pests and diseases, including African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), cassava bacterial blight (CBB), cassava anthracnose disease (CAD), and brown leaf spot (BLS).
Aims: This study aimed to identify resistant and susceptible lines against pests and diseases of eight improved cassava genotypes in high humid region of southeastern Nigeria.
Methods: The study was carried out at GUS AGRO Farms in Ndikpa, Umuowa-Ibu 1, Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria, in 2024 and 2025 early planting seasons. The experiment was laid in out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Disease and pest severity were scored at 2, 4, and 6 months after planting on a 1–5 scale. The collected data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test, If the results were significant, the analysis was continued with the Dunn test, with the Benjamini-Hochberg correction.
Results: The results of the study revealed differences in ACMV and BLS severity among genotypes, while CAD, CBB, cassava green spider mite (CGSM), mealybug, and grasshopper attacks showed no significant variation. Sunshine, Fine Face, Dixon, Poundable, TME419, and Game Changer exhibited resistance to ACMV, whereas Imo Best was highly susceptible, recording severity scores up to 4.00. For BLS, Imo Best again showed the highest susceptibility, while Fine Face, TME419, and Ayaya remained symptom-free.
Conclusion: The study revealed that some cassava genotypes, including Sunshine, Fine Face, Dixon, Poundable, TME419, Game Changer, and Ayaya, exhibited strong resistance to ACMV and BLS, making them promising genotypes for adoption by farmers and breeding programs. Conversely, Imo Best genotypes consistently showed high susceptibility, with severe ACMV scores and pronounced vulnerability to BLS, underscoring the risks of cultivating it in disease-prone environments.
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