Field Evaluation of Brazilian Isolates of Neozygites floridana (Entomophthorales: Neozygitaceae) for the Microbial Control of Cassava Green Mite in Benin, West Africa

Abstract

Two Brazilian isolates and one Benin (indigenous) isolate of Neozygites floridana were released against the cassava green mite, Mononychellus tanajoa , in January 1999 in the Adjohoun district, Ouémé administrative region, Republic of Benin. Post-release monitoring conducted 8, 14, 22 and 36 weeks later showed very low mean infection rates on M. tanajoa by isolate (0.03-0.4%). However, 48 weeks after releases, mean infection rates increased noticeably to between 2.3 and 18.7%, and higher infection rates were observed for the Brazilian isolates compared with the indigenous one. The highest infection rate for the indigenous isolate was 4.5% while it reached over 30% for the Brazilian isolates (36.5 and 34.0%). Observations made to study dispersal from inoculated plants showed the absence of infected mites at 4 m from the inoculated plants in all fields 8 weeks after the releases, while they were already present on those at 2 m away. From the next monitoring, 14 weeks after the releases, infection was found at all three sampling positions (inoculated plants and plants at 2 and 4 m away). Only four mites with resting spores were found in over 460 000 mites examined. The highest infection levels were observed in December during 'harmattan' a period characterized by hot days and cool nights with high relative humidity.