The history and epidemiology of Cape St Paul wilt disease of coconut in Ghana

Abstract

The history of the spread of the Cape St. Paul Wilt (lethal yellowing) disease of coconut in Ghana is presented. Epidemiological studies showed that the disease starts slowly, then progresses (accelerate) rapidly before levelling off. In a farm, the disease first appears randomly on single trees, foci then develop around these trees, then in an explosive phase the foci coalesce destroying the whole farm. The disease spread by “jumps', in some cases, over long distances. The duration of the visible symptom phase of the disease was from 3 - 9.8 months. Disease stage I was found to be the longest phase. Disease initiated in the dry season months of January - April progressed faster than in the rainy months. Disease symptom remission was observed which could indicate that some trees are tolerant to Cape St. Paul Wilt.

JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 2, January (1999) pp. 32-42