Recognize the problem
Eight
out of ten households cultivate cassava. It is a very important food crop in
Africa and, unfortunately, it is affected by many diseases and pests. Vascular
bacterial blight considerably reduces the yield, as well as the quality of
the leaves. In the field, we see yellow to brown, dried, squarish spots,
generally delineated by the veins. Between the leaf and the stem, there is
usually a white gummy and sticky liquid that signifies the presence of
bacteria. The tip of the plant rots away and the whole plant dies after the
leaves fall.
Do
not confuse this disease with bacterial necrosis, which has round spots, does
not cause the leaves to fall off prematurely, and does not produce white
liquid between leaves and stems.
Background
This
disease is caused by a bacteria that lives inside the plant, but cannot cross
the vein boundaries. This disease is more active in the rainy season. It is
possible to stop this disease from entering the field or spreading, by using
resistant or tolerant varieties. These varieties will have the capacity to
block the bacteria from entering, or even kill the disease if it enters the
plant
Management
Before
planting seeds, seedlings or cuttings, make sure they are of one of the
following varieties:
Tshilogo
Kamanamabanza
Lueni
Lac Lomba
You
should be able to get these seeds from your local certified seed dealer, or
an approved nursery with:
SENASEM,
INERA, IITA or SEPROSEM
Monitor
the field once a week to check for disease. If there is an attack, contact
your local agronomist, and go see the nursery to check that the seeds are the
right ones for you to use.
