Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Phytophthora heart rot disease (PHRD) of pineapple is one of the damaging
diseases that attack pineapple plants of all ages and can cause 100% yield loss.
Documented information on the disease in Ghana is quite limiting even though
Ghana is among the top exporting countries in Africa. It is therefore essential
to know the status of this disease, the particular species of Phytophthora
causing the disease in the selected areas of study (Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-
Abrem, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Ekumfi districts) and how it could be
managed using botanicals and bio-control organism. The study was conducted
in three main phases: surveys (demographic and field), pathogen identification
and characterisation and in vitro disease management. One hundred and
twenty (120) farmers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. The
disease was present in seven (7) out of the twelve (12) communities selected
for the survey. The highest incidence was recorded at Abrenu-Akyinim
(3.40%) and Asofa (3.40%) with the least at Nanaben (0.4%). Disease severity
was highest at Abrenu-Akyinim (1.50) and lowest at Atabadze (0.2). P.
nicotiannae and P. cinnamomi were both found to be the causative organism
of PHRD in the study area. In vitro control studies using Neem, Prekԑsԑ,
Mahogany extract and Trichoderma asperellum via Minimum Inhibitory
Concentration test showed that all treatments with the exception of Mahogany
were inhibitory to P. cinnamomi with Prekԑsԑ recording the highest mean
inhibition index of 3.00. A dual culture technique test performed using the
Trichoderma sp. and Phytophthora isolates on different application days,
showed that, the application of the Trichoderma 24 hrs before plating the
isolate gave the highest inhibition percentage.
