Analysis of Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) Prevalence and Developmental Stages and Its Effects on Cassava Plant Height and Infection by Cassava Mosaic Disease under Field Conditions
Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) serve as a vector for transmitting phytopathogens that inhibit the normal development of plants, affecting crop performance. This study assessed the seasonal dynamics of whitefly developmental stages in relation to plant height, cassava mosaic disease (CMD) severity and incidence in cassava; and the influence of whitefly prevalence and developmental stages on cassava plant height and infection by CMD under field conditions. The trial was conducted under natural cassava production conditions during 2020/2021 cropping season at the upland experimental site of the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Njala University. A total of 270 cassava genotypes comprising 268 local varieties and 2 improved checks (SLICASS 4 and SLICASS 6) was laid out in an augmented randomized design with four blocks. Results revealed that whitefly eggs dominated early colonization at 3 months after planting (MAP) but had little epidemiological influence, whereas adults and nymphs strongly predicted severity and incidence of CMD from 6 - 9 MAP. Findings on correlation circles revealed seasonal associations, with adults clustering closely with CMD variables at epidemic peak (9 MAP), but decoupling occurring at 12 MAP due to symptom persistence. The CMD trend analysis showed a characteristic sigmoidal pattern, while data on mode-of-infection confirmed dual pathways: early cutting-borne infections and mid-to-late seasonal whitefly-borne CMD infections. These findings suggest that CMD epidemiology is probably governed by shifting whitefly population structure and environmental heterogeneity. Future studies will explore better understanding of these dynamic relationships that provide a framework for timely integrated pest management (IPM) interventions for sustainable cassava production.
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