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Cassava diseases may cause between 30% to total crop failure to cassava, a major staple for many Africans and a food security crop.

Diseases and pests of cassava are major constraints to cassava production in Africa and threaten to halt production of cassava.

It is therefore very important to look at the various diseases of cassava in the region, and as a first, throw light on the subject of common diseases of cassava in Africa.

Read also: Detailed guide to good cassava cultivation

In this post, we present a manual of the major diseases of cassava in Africa and other relevant information about them with reference from a document by Emmanuel Moses on Guide to Identification and Control of Cassava Diseases.

Read also: Cassava diseases: Prevention and control

 

NO.
NAME OF DISEASE
CAUSES / CAUSAL ORGANISM
DISEASE SYMPTOMS
TRANSMISSION
% YIELD LOSS
1
 African Cassava Mosaic Disease Virus Yellow patches on leaves mixed with the normal green colour of leaves. White fly (Besimisia tabacci). 20 – 90%
Distorted leave blades and reduce in size. Disease spread through the use of infected stem cutting as planting materials.
Stunted growth developing poor stems.
2
 Cassava Bacterial Blight Bacterium (Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis) Lesions on leaves. Spreads if the bacterial causal organism is transferred from infected plant to a new susceptible plant. 100%
cassava bacterial blight Spots start along the veins, margins and tips of leaf blades. Through wounds and openings or scratches leave and stems.
Spot join together to form large brown patches killing the leaf blade. Can spread through uncleaned farm tools from an infected field.
Leaf dries and wilts and falls. Stems of infected plants used as planting materials on new farms.
Petioles of affected leaves are often oriented horizontally to the main stem axis.
New shoots develop from dead-end stems of severely infected plants.
3
 Cassava Anthracnose Fungus (Collectothricum gloeosporioides) Cankers of sore-like lesions on stems. Wind or rain splashes and may enter the plant through the wound on stems. 30% or more.
Cankers may be at the node bearing petioles or along any part of the stem depending on the variety. Planting cuttings bearing cankers of the disease.
Cankers may be small or large depending on variety.
Wilting of infected plants accompanied with defoliation.
Dieback of stems.
Symptoms develop rapidly in wet seasons.
4
 Cassava Bud Necrosis Fungus Dark or grey patches or necrotic lesion on stem surfaces. Spore carried by wind from plant to plant or farm to farm.
Necrotic areas often cover buds on the stem. The use of infected stem cuttings bearing necrotic lesions in planting.
5
 Brown and White Leaf spot disease. Fungus Brown spots on upper surface of leaves of susceptible varieties. In susceptible varieties, large areas of the leaf are covered by brown spots reducing the total photosynthetic area of the leaf.
Margins of brown spots are irregular. In such situation, yields could be reduced.
The middle of brown spots may break causing ‘shot holes’.
6
 Root Rot Disease. Some parasitic mushrooms e.g. Polyporus sulphureus. Wilting of leaves accompanied by defoliation. Spread through the water. Recorded losses around 45%.
Pathogenic microorganisms (fungi and bacteria). Swollen roots with coloured inner tissues Plant debris (rotten roots) left on fields after harvest are sources of spores that can cause new infections.
Water-logging and periodic flooding. Rotten roots may be soft and produce an offensive odour (the rot caused by bacteria). Through the use of farm tools e.g. cutlasses and hoes contaminated with spores of fungal organisms.
May lead to the death of infected plants.
Shoot or stem die-back.

Read also: Facts about improved cassava varieties in Ghana

 

Reference:

Guide to Identification and Control of Cassava Diseases by Emmanuel Moses.

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3 Comments. Leave new

Joan H-Greenleafseer
July 13, 2016 3:00 am

Due to the energy increase on Earth the plants will have many ways it needs help. You are to get young roots and plant put them in the pyramid the whole plant with the crystal. Make a seedling with it own bundle of dirt it needs to be strengthen by the energy. Those that spend the time growing in the pyramid. Keep a close eye on them and plant them near large trees. Make sure it is not to close to the large tree root but close enough that the tree will assist the plants. Those plants check their roots and make notes on how the plants are doing. If they are healthy use those roots and do the process again. As the energy increases on the planet the plants needs to be able to handle it so they will not be affected by the higher energy.

Reply
Vovolytic Vovo Dono
July 12, 2016 10:28 am

looking forward to the prevention and control of these disease

Reply

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January 22, 2018
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