BACTERIAL WILT IN THE TOMATO CROPPING SYSTEMS OF NIGERIA : ITS PREVALENCE AND YIELD LOSS
Oyedun O.S., Kufu F.O., Nwanguma E.I.
National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B. 5432, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
A survey of bacterial wilt of tomato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in four major tomato growing states (Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, Ogun) in Nigeria was investigated. A total number of 90 farms were evaluated.
Disease incidence of 5, 25, 5, and 100% was recorded in Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, and Ogun states respectively. Higher disease spread was recorded in the rainforest agroecological zone than the savanna zone. Also, yield loss of over 70% was observed in the rainforest zone while the savanna zone gave yield loss of between 10-30%. There was no significant correlation at p=0,05 between yield loss and cropping systems employed during cultivation.
