ISHS Acta Horticulturae 380: Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy
MACABO ROOT ROT DISEASE IN CAMEROON: KNOWLEDGE, OCCURRENCE, AND INCIDENCE IN FAKO DIVISION |
| Authors: | E.T. Acquah, A. Nnoung, A. Mbassa, J.C. Mboua |
| Abstract:
The production of macabo in many countries, including Cameroon, has been constrained by the root rot disease during the past two decades. The exact symptoms of this disease are confusing. A survey carried out in 14 localities among 600 farmers in Fako Division assessed the extent of the constraints. More than two-thirds of the 404 farmers interviewed have a knowledge of the disease, which is commonly recognized by the yellowing of leaves, poor tuberization, and root damage. Although the disease was first reported in Cameroon in the late 1930s, it was first noticed by farmers in Fako Division in 1959. The occurrence of the disease became widespread between 1976 and 1990. Estimates of root rot incidence showed that most of the farmers who noticed the disease experienced crop losses of 5–40 % during the 1989/90 cropping season. About 4 % of the farmers complained of very high level of severity with a mean loss of 87.5%. All this accounted for 36% of the total macabo losses in Fako Division. | |
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