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Cassava green mite in East Africa: A regional approach to research and control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. H. Markham ,
I. A. D. Robertson  and
R. A. Kirkby
R. H. Markham
Affiliation:
Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, P.O. Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya
I. A. D. Robertson
Affiliation:
Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, P.O. Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya
R. A. Kirkby
Affiliation:
International Development Research Centre, P.O. Box 62084, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

A regional programme, involving seven national programmes and three international agencies, has been launched in East Africa to promote research on the biological control of cassava green mite, Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) sensu lato. The organization and objectives of the programme are described and outline results of the first 2 years of work are reported. Trials to assess losses due to mites were carried out at 10 sites, using acaricides to protect split plots of two to five varieties in each trial; at 6 sites, significant losses of tuber yield were recorded on one or more varieties. Surveys of indigenous natural enemies indicated that the predator complex is similar throughout the region and does not provide adequate green mite control. Two Neotropical phytoseiid predators have so far been introduced for local evaluation. One of these, Neoseiulus idaeus, has been released at 12 sites in three countries; recoveries were made at several sites, but no impact on the pest population was detectable. Plans for further collaborative work are discussed.

Résumé

Un programme régional impliquant sept programmes nationaux et trois agences internationales a été lancé en Afrique de l'Est afin de promouvoir la recherche sur la lutte biologique contre les acariens verts du manioc, Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) sensu lato. L'organisation et les objectifs du programme font l'objet d'une description, et les résultats des deux premières années de recherches sont passés brièvement en revue. Des essais visant à évaluer les pertes causées par les acariens verts ont été réalisés dans 10 sites différents. Des acaricides ont été épandus dans chaque essai afin de protéger les split plots de 2 à 5 variétés; on a enregistré, dans 6 sites, d'importantes pertes en tubercules sur une seule voire même plusieurs variétés. Les relevés d'ennemis naturels indigènes attestent la similitude du complexe de prédateurs de part et d'autre de la région, sans pour autant fournir de moyen de lutte efficace contre les acariens verts. Deux phytoséiides prédateurs originaires de la zone intertropicale du Nouveau Monde ont été jusqu'ici introduits en vue d'une évaluation locale. L'un d'eux, Neoseiulus idaeus, a fait l'objet de lâchers dans 12 sites répartis dans 3 pays; ils ont été recapturés dans plusieurs sites, bien qu'aucun impact n'ait pu être décelé sur les colonies de ravageurs. Des projets de collaboration future seront abordés.

Keywords

Biological controlEast AfricaMononychelluscassava green miteregional programmeLutte biologiqueAfrique de l'EstMononychellusacariens verts du maniocprogramme régional
Type
Symposium XI: Africa-wide Biological Control Programme of Cassava Pests
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 8 , Issue 4-5-6: Recent Advances in Research on Tropical Entomology , December 1987 , pp. 909 - 914
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1987

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References

REFERENCES

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