Review

Combating yam anthracnose in Nigeria: A Review

¹Kutama A.S, ¹Auyo M.I, ²Binta S.B, ²Lawan S. A, ²Umar S and ³Fagwalawa L.D

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa state, Nigeria

²Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Kano, Nigeria

³Department of Biology, Kano University of science and technology, Wudil, Kano state, Nigeria

*Corresponding author E-mail: kutamasak@yahoo.com;  Tel: +2347067371893

Accepted 2 December 2013

Abstract

Yam is an important tuber food crop in Nigeria and in most parts of tropical Africa. However, a major cause of low yield yam is the use of low yielding local varieties with little or no use of fertilizers. Other major constraints to yam production in the tropics are foliar diseases. One important foliar disease of yam of great economic importance is Yam Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Yam anthracnose disease is the most devastating disease of yam in all areas where yam is produced at commercial level due to low yielding varieties, poor agronomic package and lack of quality seed. Anthracnose can depress yield by 67% and ‘Appollo’ may result in total loss of planting seed. Anthracnose might cause yield production of up to 80% in Nigeria especially in some areas where yam is produced in substantial quantity. Cultural practices such as early planting and close spacing have been used to control the disease by small scale farmers. These control measures are usually limited and host plant resistance provides a more viable option, especially with small scale resource poor farmers in eastern Africa. However, the availability of resistant variety in most parts of the tropics is very limited. This paper reviews the epidemiology, economic importance and the various strategies of combating yam anthracnose diseases In Nigeria.

Keywords: yam anthracnose, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, epidemiology, control, Nigeria