The potential of selected shade tree species for managing mirids and black pod disease infection in cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana
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The potential of selected shade tree species for managing mirids and black pod disease infection in cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana. / Asitoakor, Bismark Kwesi; Ræbild, Anders; Asare, Richard; Vaast, Philippe; Howe, Andy G.; Eziah, Vincent Yao; Owusu, Kwadwo; Mensah, Eric Opoku; Kotey, Daniel Ashie; Ravn, Hans Peter.
In: Crop Protection, Vol. 184, 106810, 2024.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The potential of selected shade tree species for managing mirids and black pod disease infection in cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana
AU - Asitoakor, Bismark Kwesi
AU - Ræbild, Anders
AU - Asare, Richard
AU - Vaast, Philippe
AU - Howe, Andy G.
AU - Eziah, Vincent Yao
AU - Owusu, Kwadwo
AU - Mensah, Eric Opoku
AU - Kotey, Daniel Ashie
AU - Ravn, Hans Peter
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Pests and diseases are major determinants of cocoa yield, but continuous synthetic chemical control of cocoa pests contributes to environmental pollution and high production costs. As an alternative, we assessed the influence of eight commonly retained forest tree species on mirid and black pod disease infestation, compared to unshaded portions in 10 cocoa fields in the Western region of Ghana. The influence of tree species, on-farm temperature, rainfall, and relative air humidity was assessed on mirid population densities on cocoa trees, and mirid and black pod disease infested pods from May 2018 to December 2020. Shade tree species had significant effects on mirid densities and resulting pod damages, with highest mirid occurrence in Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum (0.51 ± 0.12 mirids tree−1 yr−1) and lowest occurrence in Khaya ivorensis A. Chem (0.21 ± 0.07 mirids tree−1 yr−1), Cedrela odorata L. (0.22 ± 0.09 mirids tree−1 yr−1) and Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C. Berg. (0.24 ± 0.09 mirids tree−1 yr−1) plots, compared to the unshaded control plots (0.48 ± 0.12 mirids tree−1 yr−1). Black pod disease (caused by Phytophthora spp.) infection was significantly different among species with highest pod damage observed around Cola nitida Schott and Endl. and least in unshaded areas. The occurrence of black pod disease varied with seasons and correlated with monthly rainfall and humidity, while mirid infestation correlated with monthly temperature. The diameter of shade trees and the density of cocoa trees influenced both mirid infestation and black pod disease infection. Hence, careful selection of shade tree species appears to be an important strategy to enhance integrated pest management (IPM) in cocoa systems.
AB - Pests and diseases are major determinants of cocoa yield, but continuous synthetic chemical control of cocoa pests contributes to environmental pollution and high production costs. As an alternative, we assessed the influence of eight commonly retained forest tree species on mirid and black pod disease infestation, compared to unshaded portions in 10 cocoa fields in the Western region of Ghana. The influence of tree species, on-farm temperature, rainfall, and relative air humidity was assessed on mirid population densities on cocoa trees, and mirid and black pod disease infested pods from May 2018 to December 2020. Shade tree species had significant effects on mirid densities and resulting pod damages, with highest mirid occurrence in Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum (0.51 ± 0.12 mirids tree−1 yr−1) and lowest occurrence in Khaya ivorensis A. Chem (0.21 ± 0.07 mirids tree−1 yr−1), Cedrela odorata L. (0.22 ± 0.09 mirids tree−1 yr−1) and Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C. Berg. (0.24 ± 0.09 mirids tree−1 yr−1) plots, compared to the unshaded control plots (0.48 ± 0.12 mirids tree−1 yr−1). Black pod disease (caused by Phytophthora spp.) infection was significantly different among species with highest pod damage observed around Cola nitida Schott and Endl. and least in unshaded areas. The occurrence of black pod disease varied with seasons and correlated with monthly rainfall and humidity, while mirid infestation correlated with monthly temperature. The diameter of shade trees and the density of cocoa trees influenced both mirid infestation and black pod disease infection. Hence, careful selection of shade tree species appears to be an important strategy to enhance integrated pest management (IPM) in cocoa systems.
KW - Climatic conditions
KW - Cocoa canopy
KW - Integrated pest management
KW - Phytophthora spp. smallholder farmers
KW - Sustainable cocoa production
U2 - 10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106810
DO - 10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106810
M3 - Review
AN - SCOPUS:85195597543
VL - 184
JO - Crop Protection
JF - Crop Protection
SN - 0261-2194
M1 - 106810
ER -
ID: 397604620