Incidence of cassava root rot in the central region of Ghana

Abstract

A survey of the incidence of Cassava root rot in the Central Region of Ghana was conducted from August to November, 1995. The main objective of the survey was to evaluate the economic importance of cassava root rot diseases in cassava production. All the twelve districts in the region were covered by the survey. From each district twenty cassava farmers were randomly selected out of forty farmers and they were interviewed using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to find out the knowledge of farmers on the cassava root rot. The results indicated that 68.4% of cassava farmers in the region were aware of the occurrence of cassava root rot on their farms while 31.6 had not encountered it. The survey revealed that both soft and dry cassava root rot were well established in the Central Region except in one district, Dunkwa-On-Offin. The average incidence of soft cassava root rot in the various zones studied were: coastal districts (Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Mfantsiman, Awutu-Efutu-Senya and Gomoa) 36%; the penultimate coastal districts (Abura-Asiefu -Kwaman Kese, Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam and Agona Swedru) 30%; mid-region districts (Assin Foso and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakera), 21% and Forest District (Upper Denkyira and Lower Denkyira), 15%. For the dry root rot the incidences by zones at dry root rot were: Coastal District, 47%; the penultimate coastal districts, 18%. Mid-region districts, 13% and Forest Districts 27%. Six fungi were found to be associated with cassava root rot in the Central Region. They were Fusarium sp (white and dark colony types), Cunninghamella sp. Mortierella exigua Linnem, Glioclachum fimbricatum Gilman and Abbott, and Polyporus sulphureus Bull. Ex Fr. JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 1, July (1998) pp. 40-49