Sam, W.; Morris, O.S.; Tom, O.; Patrick, O.; Colvin, J.; Abu, O.C. Resistance to Cassava Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) among Eastern and Southern African Elite Cassava Genotypes. Insects2024, 15, 258.
Sam, W.; Morris, O.S.; Tom, O.; Patrick, O.; Colvin, J.; Abu, O.C. Resistance to Cassava Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) among Eastern and Southern African Elite Cassava Genotypes. Insects 2024, 15, 258.
Sam, W.; Morris, O.S.; Tom, O.; Patrick, O.; Colvin, J.; Abu, O.C. Resistance to Cassava Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) among Eastern and Southern African Elite Cassava Genotypes. Insects2024, 15, 258.
Sam, W.; Morris, O.S.; Tom, O.; Patrick, O.; Colvin, J.; Abu, O.C. Resistance to Cassava Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) among Eastern and Southern African Elite Cassava Genotypes. Insects 2024, 15, 258.
Abstract
The cassava whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, causes direct damage to cassava in the tropics by feeding on the phloem of leaves, inducing leaf chlorosis and abscission which can result in considerable yield loss of up to about 50% on susceptible varieties. The pest is also known to impart its indirect damage through sooty mold formation. Most of the improved cassava varieties in Uganda were developed for CMD resistance and CBSD tolerance and little is known about their reaction to whitefly infestation. A study was conducted to evaluate the reaction of 24 improved cassava varieties which were sourced from 5 different countries in the region (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique) to whitefly infestation. These varieties were evaluated in three agro-ecological zones of Uganda, namely; North-Western Savannah Grassland, Lake Victoria Crescent and the Kyoga Plains in the second rains of 2016. Monthly data were taken on adult and nymph counts, whitefly and sooty mold damage, CMD and CBSD severities from 2 up-to 9 Months after planting (MAP). Results show that the whitefly population was highly significantly (P
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