Diversity, Incidence and Severity of Mistletoe on Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) in Kumba, Meme Division, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Cocoa is an important cash crop grown in about 400,000 ha in Cameroon and its yield remains low in spite of the use of elites’ varieties. Mistletoes are the main production limitation factor. Ecology and diversity of mistletoe are yet to be investigated in some major cocoa production areas of Cameroon. This study aimed to identify the mistletoe species infecting this crop, determine their incidence, severity and distribution, evaluate their possible sources of infection from farmers’ perspectives in the Kumba locality and appropriate management practices for these parasites. A survey was carried out in 2018, whereby samples of mistletoe on 9-17 years old cocoa plants were collected from 30 farms in 10 villages within the Kumba environs. Voucher specimens were taken for identification at the Limbe Botanic Gardens. A total of 7,279 plants were examined randomly in 3 farms per village and data obtained, analyzed using descriptive analysis and ANOVA. Three mistletoe species were identified: Phragmanthera lapathifolia, Phragmanthera batangae, and Tapinanthus globiferus. All the 10 villages surveyed, were infested with either of the parasites with Kake I having the highest incidence of 43.11% and with all the mistletoe species. Phragmanthera lapathifolia the most abundant (21.43%) of the 2,290 plants were infested. ANOVA at (P =.01;.05) showed that the local cocoa variety, Forastero was significantly susceptible than the hybrid, Trinitario. 86.6% of farmers identified birds as the main element of mistletoe dispersal; 93.3%mentioned that pruning of infected branches is best control for mistletoe. This study has established that three mistletoe parasites infest cocoa plantations in Kumba and determined their incidence, severity and distribution. Phragmanthera lapathifolia was the most abundant parasite and birds were most involved in mistletoe dispersal.