Mistletoe infection of woody plant species at Bahir Dar University main campus, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Study of woody plants composition and invasion by mistletoes was conducted in Bahir Dar University main campus vegetation. A total of 28009 individual trees were checked for mistletoes infection and 764 trees were found parasitized. Three species of mistletoes were identified.  Erianthemum dregi was more frequent and more abundant (58.68%). The infested host trees belonged to 11 species that were members of 10 genera and eight families. The most parasitized host family was Fabaceae. The host species most susceptible to the mistletoes were Sesbania sesban and Jacaranda mimosifolia. Host specificity is highest for Phragmenthera regularis (H’ = 0.046). This survey study on vegetation infection by mistletoes demonstrated the need for further study on biological and environmental factors for infection of host species and seeking for appropriate ecosystem management programs.