Incidence and Severity of Vine Rot and Wilt Disease of Telfairia occidentalis Caused by Athelia rolfii in Southern, Nigeria

Telfairia occidentalis is an important vegetable crop that is intensively grown in Southern Nigeria for its utilization in home dishes and commercialization. However, its production is being limited by vine rot infection caused by Athelia rolfsii. Information on the epidemiology in growing regions is important for the disease management. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the incidence and severity of vine rot disease of Telfairia occidentalis in commercial fields across Abak, Akwa Ibom State. A total of nine established T. occidentalis fields in three locations, including the Cross River Basin Development Authority, Abak-Irrigation Project, were visited during the peak of dry season (November – December), 2021 and raining season (June - August), 2022 respectively. The fields were scored for vine rot disease incidence and severity using a well described scale. Random samples from symptomatic plants were collected and taken to the laboratory for fungi isolation and identification. Koch postulate was carried out to confirm the causal agents on one susceptible genotype of T. occidentalis in the study area. Overall number of plants showing varying levels of symptoms reaches 84% and total values for mean incidences’ rate (3.31 ± 0.06      and 3.19 ± 0.06) were recorded for both sampling period respectively. The result of this study revealed that the prevalent fungal pathogen that is responsible for vine rot and wilt disease of T. occidentalis in the study is A. rolfsii and presented information on the level and severity of infection that is indicative of the need to implement appropriate control measures for A. rolfsii disease in the study area.