Inventory and abundance of mealybug species in immature and mature cocoa farms in Côte d'Ivoire |
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Authors: | Pierre Walet N'Guessan Ahoua Yapi Franois Kouam N'Guessan Norbert N'Dri Kouam Christiane Nathalie Gouamen Romain Aka Aka Klotioloma Coulibaly Mathias Gnion Tahi Boak Kon Emmanuel Koffi Kassin Evelyne Marise Assi Brigitte Honorine Sahin Boguinard Guiraud Alain Acka Jacques Kotaix |
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Institution: | Pierre Walet N'Guessan,Ahoua Yapi,François Kouamé N'Guessan,Norbert N'Dri Kouamé,Christiane Nathalie Gouamené,Romain Aka Aka,Klotioloma Coulibaly,Mathias Gnion Tahi,Boaké Koné,Emmanuel Koffi Kassin,Evelyne Marise Assi,Brigitte Honorine Sahin Boguinard Guiraud,Alain Acka Jacques Kotaix |
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Abstract: | From 2013 to 2018, surveys were conducted in counties not previously surveyed in order to determine species of mealybugs present in the cocoa orchard in Côte d'Ivoire as well as their abundance according to the age of cocoa trees. Immature and mature cocoa trees were inspected to hand‐height in 5 and 29 counties infected with Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV). In each cocoa farm, mealybugs were searched for on fruits, leaves, flowers, twigs and trunks. Mealybug species were identified, and colonies were counted. Five mealybug species were identified on immature cocoa trees: Ferrisia virgata, Formicococcus njalensis, Planococcus citri, Planococcus kenyae and Pseudococcus longispinus. In addition to these species, four species, Dysmicoccus brevipes, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Phenacoccus hargreavesi and Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi were identified on mature cocoa trees. On immature cocoa trees, Fo. Njalensis, Pl. citri and Ps. longispinus comprised were, respectively, 35%, 33% and 19% of colonies, respectively. On mature cocoa trees, Fo. Njalensis and Pl. citri comprised 63.2% and 21.0%, and others species 15.8%. Nevertheless, the abundance of mealybug species varied according to the age of cocoa trees. The preferred organs of mealybugs were pods (74.1%) followed by twigs (13.4%) and flowers (7.4%). Previously, the mealybug Paracoccus burnerae (Brain) was found on Theobroma cacao, which is the first record for this species in Côte d'Ivoire and on this host‐plant. |
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Keywords: | Cacao swollen shoot virus
Formicococcus njalensis
Paracoccus burnerae
Planococcus citri
transmission vectors |
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