Field Evaluation of Brazilian Isolates of Neozygites floridana (Entomophthorales: Neozygitaceae) for the Microbial Control of Cassava Green Mite in Benin, West Africa
Titel:
Field Evaluation of Brazilian Isolates of Neozygites floridana (Entomophthorales: Neozygitaceae) for the Microbial Control of Cassava Green Mite in Benin, West Africa
Auteur:
Hountondji, F. C. C. J.Lomer, C. Hanna, R. J.Cherry, A. Dara, S. K.
Verschenen in:
Biocontrol science and technology
Paginering:
Jaargang 12 (2002) nr. 3 pagina's 361-370
Jaar:
2002-06-01
Inhoud:
Two Brazilian isolates and one Benin (indigenous) isolate of Neozygites floridana were released against the cassava green mite, Mononychellus tanajoa , in January 1999 in the Adjohoun district, Oueme administrative region, Republic of Benin. Post-release monitoring conducted 8, 14, 22 and 36 weeks later showed very low mean infection rates on M. tanajoa by isolate (0.03-0.4%). However, 48 weeks after releases, mean infection rates increased noticeably to between 2.3 and 18.7%, and higher infection rates were observed for the Brazilian isolates compared with the indigenous one. The highest infection rate for the indigenous isolate was 4.5% while it reached over 30% for the Brazilian isolates (36.5 and 34.0%). Observations made to study dispersal from inoculated plants showed the absence of infected mites at 4 m from the inoculated plants in all fields 8 weeks after the releases, while they were already present on those at 2 m away. From the next monitoring, 14 weeks after the releases, infection was found at all three sampling positions (inoculated plants and plants at 2 and 4 m away). Only four mites with resting spores were found in over 460 000 mites examined. The highest infection levels were observed in December during 'harmattan' a period characterized by hot days and cool nights with high relative humidity.