Kasule, F Farmer Preference of Cassava Cultivars in Eastern Uganda: A Choice Beyond Disease Resistance

Clever Mukuze,Agnes Wakesho Mwang'Ombe,Peter Wasswa,Selma Ndapewa Nghituwamhata,Kasule Faizo,Settumba Brasio Mukasa,Anthony Okiror,Evalyne Chepkoech Rono

doi:10.30560/as.v2n2p169

Clever Mukuze, Agnes Wakesho Mwang'Ombe + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30560/as.v2n2p169

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Journal: Agricultural Science	Publication Date: Dec 2, 2020
Citations: 1	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Makerere University

Abstract

The cassava breeding program in Uganda has released many improved cultivars resistant/tolerant to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD). However, many farmers have continued to use cultivars that are susceptible to these major viral diseases but with diverse attributes. There is a need to understand farmers’ cassava cultivar attribute preferences and CBSD, CMD prevalence on the preferred cultivars. A total of 150 cassava farmer fields (74 in Bukedea district and 76 in Kumi district) located in eastern Uganda were evaluated for farmers’ cultivars and attribute preferences, as well as prevalence of CBSD and CMD on the farmer selected cultivars. The eastern region was of interest in the study, due to it-being the major cassava producing area in the country. In addition, 30 cassava plants of different genotypes were chosen randomly along transects of each field and assessed for CBSD/CMD incidence and severity on preferred cultivars. Results showed that more than 64% of the farmers in eastern Uganda preferred NASE 03 due to its sweet taste and high yields, followed by NASE 14 (21%) because of its high yields. There was a significant (P≤0.001) correlation between cassava cultivars preferred and CBSD severity (r = -0.56), CBSD incidence (r = -0.53), CMD severity (r = -0.51) and CMD incidence (r = -0.39). In corroboration, the most preferred cultivar, NASE 03 was found most susceptible to CBSD and CMD in both Bukedea and Kumi districts with CBSD incidence of 62.2% and 52.7% and CMD incidence of 56.9% and 34.3% respectively. The results showed that CBSD and CMD are prevalent on farmer preferred cassava cultivars, and that farmer cultivar preference depends not only on disease resistance but also other attributes.

Highlights

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important staple food crop cultivated in many parts of Africa by more than 800 million people
The results showed that cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) are prevalent on farmer preferred cassava cultivars, and that farmer cultivar preference depends on disease resistance and other attributes
Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) caused by cassava brown streak viruses (CBSVs) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) caused by different species of cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMGs) are the major viral diseases leading to severe yield losses of up to 100% (Legg et al, 2011; Legg et al, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important staple food crop cultivated in many parts of Africa by more than 800 million people. In Uganda cassava is grown in all parts of the country, with eastern region being the major producer (FAOSTAT, 2017; UBOS, 2017). The CBSVs and CMGs are transmitted by whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, and can be spread through cuttings, which is exacerbated by the virtue that cassava is vegetatively propagated (Maruthi et al, 2005; Legg et al, 2015). The vegetative nature of cassava has made management of viral diseases difficult, as often cassava planting materials and the cyclic-propagation of field sourced planting materials in cassava leads to continued virus presence and build up in the environment (Maruthi et al, 2005; Legg et al, 2014)

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