The effect of the incidence of cassava anthracnose disease (CAD) on the performance and yield of cassava cultivars

The objective of this work was to assess the effect of the incidence of cassava anthracnose disease (CAD) on the performance and yield of cassava cultivars planted in Owerri, Imo state. Eighteen cultivars were planted in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times over a period of 3 years. Cultivars TMS 30211, TMS 30001, 98/0510 and TMS 4(2)1425 were regarded as resistant due to the possession of more than three desirable characteristics such as the least size of cankers and absence of cankers in the first and second trials (2003/04 and 2004/05) respectively, lowest severity score and highest weight of healthy fresh tuber and stems. They are recommended for use as parent materials for breeding for resistance to CAD. Cultivar Akwakwuru had the largest size of cankers on whole plant, highest fresh weight of infected tubers and stems which led to low yield and less planting materials. It is regarded as susceptible and may lead to spread of CAD. The correlation of weight of infected fresh tubers on size of canker on whole plant, young stem and maturing stem were positively and highly significantly correlated (r = 0.645, r = 0.470, r = 0.583 and r = 0.622, respectively).