Abstract
The Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease (CSPWD) is a coconut lethal yellowing type disease (LY) and is the single most serious threat to coconut cultivation in Ghana. The recommended disease management strategy is the cultivation of disease-resistant coconut varieties. More than 38 varieties have been screened for their resistance to CSPWD since 1956 and the results are reviewed in this paper. Two varieties, Sri Lanka Green Dwarf (SGD) and Vanuatu Tall (VTT), have shown high resistance to the disease, and their hybrid (SGD × VTT) is under observation to determine its performance. A programme to rehabilitate the CSPWD-devastated areas was started in 1999. Emerging results indicate that the MYD × VTT hybrid being used for the programme, succumbs to the disease under intense disease pressure. A redirection of the rehabilitation programme and the screening of more varieties are recommended.
Highlights
Is the single most serious threat to coconut cultivation in Ghana
Emerging results indicate that the Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) × Vanuatu Tall (VTT) hybrid being used for the programme, succumbs to the disease under intense disease pressure
A redirection of the rehabilitation programme and the screening of more varieties are recommended
Summary
The Department of Agriculture established resistance screening trials at Ohawu, Dzelukope, Tegbi and Cape Saint Paul in the Keta area of the Volta Region in 1956-57. The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L) is the “main stay” of the economies of the coastal belt of Ghana [1, 2]. Due to the poor edaphic factors of this zone, coconut is usually the only crop that is commercially exploitable here [2]. The ability of the crop to create employment and spread wealth is common knowledge in the southern part of Ghana. It is, a major concern that the coconut industry in
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