Influence of variety on the within-plant distribution of cassava green spider mite (Acari : Tetranychidae), and leaf anatomical characteristics and chemical components in relation to varietal resistance
E. Nukenine et al., Influence of variety on the within-plant distribution of cassava green spider mite (Acari : Tetranychidae), and leaf anatomical characteristics and chemical components in relation to varietal resistance, INT J PEST, 46(3), 2000, pp. 177-186
The within-plant distribution of the cassava green spider mite, Mononychell
us tanajoa Bondar, and the anatomical characteristics and the chemical comp
onents relating to varietal resistance of cassava, were studied using 11 ca
ssava genotypes with varying levels of resistance for two dry seasons and o
ne wet season. The results show that M. tanajoa aggregates on the top leave
s of cassava at low levels of resistance as compared with a more even withi
n-plant distribution at higher levels of resistance. Thus, for accurate sam
pling of mite populations, it might be important to consider young and old
leaves, not just the young leaves, in fields containing resistant and susce
ptible cassava genotypes. Correlations between the anatomical characteristi
cs and mite population density and damage scores were not consistent across
months, either within or over seasons. This suggests that leaf anatomical
characteristics may not be important in the varietal resistance of cassava
to M. tanajoa. During the dry season, mite population density was positivel
y correlated with leaf nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus and negatively co
rrelated with leaf calcium and fat. Only calcium was negatively associated
with mite damage at the peak of the dry season (January 1993 and 1994). Bre
eding cassava genotypes with high levels of leaf calcium and fat, and low l
evels of leaf nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, may improve the level of
resistance to M. tanajoa.