Whitefly and whitefly-borne viruses in the tropics : Building a ... - cgiar

elation to its ability to transmit
cassava mosaic viruses over the
growing period of the crop. Field
studies therefore might be necessary to
quantify such changes, assess whether
parasitism by E. sophia has any
significant impact on the insect’s
abundance and, in epidemiology trials,
to ascertain the ability of B. tabaci to
spread cassava mosaic viruses to a
range of cassava varieties.
National research capacity needs to
be enhanced in order to allow project
partners to undertake further research
on the whitefly/CMD issues raised
here. In this regard, training of national
program partners in appropriate areas
would strengthen the collaborative
linkages initiated in the pilot phase of
the project and provide a strong base
for providing sustainable technical
support to cassava farmers. Key areas
for strengthened national research
capacity include post-graduate degree
training in B. tabaci bionomics and
cassava mosaic virology, and fieldbased
training of technicians and
extension workers in participatory
processes and facilitation. Technician
and extension training will increase
scientific literacy in farming
communities and foster action research
and learning with farmers. This will
improve farmers’ currently poor access
to information, will help them
understand the causes and nature of
the disease problem and will highlight
effective cultural control options such
as planting material selection and
roguing.
28
References
Bieler, P.; Ekanayake, I. J.; Dossou, R.;
Sanni, A. O.; Ahihou, K.; Alhassan,
A. Y.; Ahiabu, R.; Yaninek, J. S.
1996. Production of high quality
cassava planting materials: A
collaborative effort. Trop. Root
Tuber Crops Bull. 9(1):1-3.
Whiteflies and Whitefly-borne Viruses in the Tropics
Burban, C.; Fishpool, L. D. C.; Fauquet,
C.; Fargette, D.; Thouvenel, J. -C.
1992. Host associated biotypes
within West African populations of
the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.)
(Hom., Aleyrodidae). J. Appl.
Entomol. 113:416-423.
Dixon, A. G. O.; Asiedu, R.; Hahn, S. K.
1992. Cassava germplasm
enhancement at IITA. In: Akoroda,
M. O.; Arene, O. B. (eds.).
Promotion of root crop-based
industries: An incentive for research
and development. Procs. 4th
Triennial Symposium of the
International Society for Tropical
Root Crops-Africa Branch (ISTRC-
AB), 5-8 December 1989, Kinshasa,
CD. p. 83-87.
Fauquet, C.; Fargette, D. 1990. African
cassava mosaic virus: Etiology,
epidemiology, and control. Plant
Dis. 74:404-411.
Gregory, P. H. 1948. The multiple
infection transformation. Ann. Appl.
Biol. 35:412-417.
IITA (International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture). 1998. Ecologically
Sustainable Cassava Plant
Protection (ESCaPP) in South
America and Africa. Africa: Project
findings and recommendations.
Ibadan, NG.
James, B. D.; Legg, J. P.; Gbaguidi, J. B.;
Annang, D.; Asiabaka, C. C.;
Cudjoe, A. R.; Echendu, T. N. C.;
Maroya, N. G.; Ntonifor, N.; Ogbe,
F.; Salawu, R. A.; Tumanteh, J. A.
1988. Understanding farm-level
epidemiology of cassava mosaic
disease. In: Abstracts, 7th Triennial
Symposium of the International
Society for Tropical Root Crops-
Africa Branch (ISTRC-AB), 11-17
October 1988, Cotonou, BJ. p. 122.
Kissiedu, A. F. K.; Asare Bediako, A.;
Afuakwa, J. J.; Okai, E.; Missah, A.
1996. National Root and Tuber
Crops Improvement Project
(NRTCIP), Ghana-highlights of
activities and achievements 1992-
93. Trop. Root Tuber Crops Bull.,
Special Edn. March 1996. p. 3-5.