Evaluation of Whitefly Population and Weather Effect of Cassava Mosaic Incidence on Commonly Grown Cassava in Benue State, Nigeria

Vector population and weather are critical in virus disease incidence and could be strategic for its management in agriculture. To investigate the influence of whitefly population and weather on Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) in cassava, TMS 419 and TME 30572, commonly grown in the state were planted. The varieties were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design in four replicates and left to natural infection by CMD viruses. At two weeks after planting and fortnightly, whitefly population counts were taken, CMD incidence was estimated and severity scored on 5- point scale. Daily temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction were obtained as secondary data. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p=0.05. Whitefly population (18/plant) was significant_ (P≤0.05) in the first 30 days at 26.9-27.1◦C, 42% humidity, 10 Km/hr wind speed and when the wind direction was in the East or North-East. The vector population then declined until the end of experiment. Cassava mosaic incidence changed with whitefly population, humidity and wind speed. Disease incidence in cassava plots was low (3.6%). TME30572 maintained lower disease incidence (3.0%) and severity (2.0) during the study. R2 indicated that 27, 42 and 57% of whitefly population could be explained by temperature, humidity and wind speed, respectively while 4% of the disease incidence could be explained by the whitefly population. The number of CMD infected plants peaked (4%) when population of whitefly was 18/plant, above which the disease reduced at 0.0017 rate per unit change in the vector population. Mosaic disease incidence in cassava plots was influenced by vector population as conditioned by the weather.