Abstract
The growing and management of Jatropha curcas, either on private, public or community land is poorly documented and there is little field experience that is being shared especially in North western Nigeria where it is still grown wild. The few growers are unable to achieve the optimum economic benefit from the plants. However, the recent importance attached to Jatropha in the Nigerian Savanna agro-ecology have revealed that, the crop is subject to attack by a diversity of arthropod pests’ species and diseases, some of which may warrant control measures taken against them. Diseases caused by a number of plant pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms such as fungi, bacteria, virus etc often have a significant economic impact on yield and quality of Jatropha plant, hence the need for adopting control measures become imperative in order to be managed for successful production. Therefore, there is need to conduct a research on common diseases affecting the growth and development of J. curcas and possible management practices in north western Nigeria.
Highlights
Jatropha curcasis a small tree or shrub with smooth gray bark, which exudes whitish colour, watery, latex when cut
Fungicide usages need to be carefully planned with a good understanding of plant disease epidemics, their components, fungicide mode of action, risk of resistance development and host physiology, among other aspects [4]
If J. curca sis cultivated in intercropping systems, the problem of pests and diseases is not very significant, and can in this case be overcome [6], but if the cultivation is done in large scale monocultures or in the wild, pests and diseases management may become important
Summary
Jatropha curcasis a small tree or shrub with smooth gray bark, which exudes whitish colour, watery, latex when cut. It grows between three and five meters in height but can attain a height of up to eight or ten meters under favourable conditions. Disease caused by fungal pathogens results in the destruction of leaf tissue of which photosynthesis is reduced, this affects the growth and development of the Jatropha plant and subsequently its potentials, other diseases like root rot, caused by Fusarium moniliforme, causes wilt and death of Jatropha in waterlogged condition, and diseases like leaf spot, rusts, collar rot can damage and kill Jatropha curcas. With the increasing demand for Jatropha as a source of biofuel in the world market [1], and several national governments’ emphasis on domestic sourcing of industrial raw materials, Jatropha has recently assumed a priority status for research and development [3]
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