Survey of the incidence and severity of root-knot and Fusarium Wilt diseases in some tomato-growing areas in the Central Region of Ghana

English

Tomato cultivation in the Central Region of Ghana is severely limited by two soil-borne diseases, namely rootknot and Fusarium wilt. A survey investigated the incidence and severity of these diseases in four farming communities in the Central Region of Ghana, namely, Kwapro, Esuekyir, Asebuputubew, and Asebuekrofor, and also identifled the pathogenic species of the Fusarium and root-knot nematodes associated With the diseases. The survey was carried out between August and November 1996 With six farms selected from each of the farming communities. On each farm, two or more 20-m 2 areas were marked off and 30 plants sampled in each marked area to assess Wilt incidence and severity. Soil and plant samples were randomly aken from each field for laboratory analysis. The results indicated that the incidence of the Wilt disease was 58.3, 54.0, 52.0 and 48.0 per cent at Kwapro, Esuekyir, Asebuputubew and Asebuekrofor, respectively. Also, disease severity was highest at Kwapro (1.51) and Iowest at Asebuputubew (0.94). The root-knot galling indices showed Kwapro as the most infected With rcot-knot disease. The prevalent Fusarium sp. identified to be associated With the Wilt disease was Fusarium solani (70.6 %). However, Other Fusarium spp. such as E equisiti (11.7 %), E moniliforme (7.7 %), and E acuminatum (2.7 %) were also isolated. For Meloid?gyne spp., M. incognita was the most predominant in au the surveyed areas, With traces of M. javanica at Asebuputubew.

Opoku-Asiama, Y.; Yeboah, M. A.