DISEASE SURVEY OF CNIDOSCOLUS ACONITIFOLIUS (MILL.) I. M. JOHNSTON IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Field survey was carried out in three senatorial zones in Rivers State to determine the disease incidence and disease severity of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius; a leafy vegetable mostly consumed for its haematological properties in the South-eastern part of Nigeria. The survey parameters observed and recorded were: location of sample collection, survey collector/Accession number, date of sample collection, total number of diseased plants, total number of diseased leaves on plant, disease symptoms observed on plants, disease Incidence (DI) and disease severity (DSV). Emuoha Local Government Area (LGA) showed the highest disease incidence and disease severity (53.31%) across all the LGAs surveyed while Rivers East showed the highest disease incidence and disease
severity (42.71% / 43.18%) among the three senatorial zones surveyed. The symptoms that occurred mostly in all the three senatorial zones include leaf spots, chlorosis, mosaic, leaf crumple, necrosis
and wilting. The level of disease incidence and disease severity shows that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius provides a favourable environment for the survival and growth of microorganisms some of which may be detrimental to the plant health. In this study, the methods used to carry out the survey and the recommendations made on how to develop appropriate disease management strategies are outlined.