Abstract
A survey on bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) prevalence was carried out in the major potato-growing areas of the North Rift region of Kenya in 2006. Limited information is available on bacterial wilt status in the region. The survey was conducted in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Keiyo and Marakwet districts. A questionnaire was administered to 256 potato growers and field observations made in two major potato-growing divisions in each district. The study areas and potato fields were selected based on potato cropping intensity, current potato field size and crop stage. Characteristic plant and tuber bacterial wilt symptoms were the main criteria used to assess the disease. The survey established that potato was grown mainly in pure stand (63%) or in mixed (26%) cropping systems with other crops such as peas, beans, spring onions and maize depending on the area and/or community. Bacterial wilt prevalence varied significantly (p ≤ 0.01) among districts, with the lowest (35%) and highest (99%) in Marakwet and Keiyo districts, respectively. The disease was absent in parts of Marakwet district that are at 2800 m above sea level or higher. Bacterial wilt incidence ranged from 0 to 33% and was significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) among districts. Improper potato and bacterial wilt management practices by most respondents suggested that bacterial wilt has continued unabated due to inadequate farmer knowledge. Factors found to aggravate potato bacterial wilt included indiscriminate use and sourcing of seed, retention of volunteer potato plants, poor field hygiene and lack of management skills on bacterial wilt.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adipala E, Tusiime B, Patel BK, Bega-Lemaga D, Olanya D (2001) Bacterial wilt management: a dilemma for sub-Saharan Africa. Afr Crop Sci Conf Proc 5:433–437
Anon (2004) Crops development 2003 annual report. Ministry of Agriculture, Trans Nzoia district, Kenya
Ateka EM, Mwang’ombe AW, Kimenju JW (2001) Reaction of potato cultivars to Ralstonia solanacearum in Kenya. Afr Crop Sci J 9(1):251–256
Englebrecht MC (1994) Modification of a semi-selective medium for the isolation and quantification of Pseudomonas solanacearum. In bacterial Wilt Newsletter Hayward AC 10:3–5. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia
French ER (1994) Integrated control of bacterial wilt of potatoes. Int Potato Center (CIP) Circular 20(2):8–11
French ER, Gutara L, Aley P (1996) Important diseases in potato seed-tuber production. Bacterial wilt manual. International Potato Center, Lima, pp 1–11
International Potato Center (2007) Select the best: positive selection to improve farm saved seed potatoes. Training manual. International Potato Center, Lima, pp 9–14
Jaetzold R, Schmidt H (1983) Farm management handbook of Kenya, vol II: natural conditions and farm management information, part B (Central and Rift Valley Provinces). Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya
Kabira JN, Wakahiu M, Wagoire W, Gildemacher P, Lemaga B (2006) Guidelines for production of healthy seed potatoes in East and Central Africa. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya, pp 1–26
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (2003) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. Annual report 2003. National Potato Research Center, Tigoni, pp 7–8
Kidanemariam HM, Michieka A, Ajanga S, Njenga ad French E (1998) The role of plant resistance in the integrated management of potato bacterial wilt. Crop protection for resource-poor farmers in Kenya. In: Farrell G, Kibata GN (eds) Proceedings of the 2nd KARI Biennal Crop Protection Conference, 16–17 September 1998. KARI/DFID National Agriculture Project II. KARI: Nairobi, Kenya
Kinyua ZM, Kihara SN, Kinoti J (2004) Latently infected tubers and seed-flow channels contribute to the incidence of potato bacterial wilt in Kenya. KARI – National Agricultural Research Laboratories, Plant Pathology Section Annual Report 2004, pp 17–23
Kinyua ZM, Smith JJ, Lunga’aho C et al (2001) On farm success and challenges of producing bacterial wilt-free tubers in seed plots in Kenya. Afr Crop Sci J 9(1):271–285
Lemaga B, Siriri D, Ebanyat P (2001) Effect of Soil amendment on bacterial Wilt incidence and yield of potatoes in South Western Uganda. Afr Crop Sci Crop Sci J 9(1):1–8
Lemay A, Redlin S, Fowler G, Dirani M (2003) Pest data sheet: Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2. USDA/APHIS/PPQ. Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Raleigh, NC
Martin C, French ER (1985) Bacterial wilt of potato Ralstonia solanacearum. International Potato Center 1996. Bacterial Wilt Manual. CIP, Lima, Peru, Sec 2-97-1–8
Muriithi LM, Wanyoike TK, Kamau K, Kariuki LK (2001) Current status of potato seed tubers and soil as major sources of bacterial wilt spread around the slopes of Mt. Kenya, pp 277–283
Priou S, Aley P (1999) Integrated management of potato bacterial wilt. International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru, http://www.cipotato.org/potato/pest_diseases/bacterial_wilt/symptoms.asp
Rees DJ, Nkonge C, Wandera JL (eds) (1997) A review of agricultural practices and constraints in the North Rift Valley Province, Kenya. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kitale, Kenya, pp 94–106. ISBN: 9966-879-36-6
Smith J, Simons S, Triagale A, Saddler G (1996) The development of a biological control agent for Pseudomonas solanacearum race 3 on potato in Kenya. Crop protection for resource-poor farmers in Kenya. In Proceedings of the 1st Biennial crop protection conference KARI/DFID NARP II, 27–28 Mar 1996, pp 14–17
Tusiime G, Adipala E (2000) Management of bacterial wilt of potato: approaches, limitations and role of stakeholders. Afr Potato Assoc Conf Proc 5:347–352
Zadoks JC, Schein RD (1979) Epidemiology and plant disease management. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, pp 100–115
Acknowledgements
We thank the director of Kenya Agricultural Research Institute for providing funding through the KARI/World Bank Scholarship. The contributions of Drs. L. Wasilwa and J.N. Kabira in the research plan development are highly appreciated. We are indebted to thank the centre director of National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Kitale, for providing facilities and enabling environment for the conduct of the research. It is our great pleasure to acknowledge the members of staff of NARC, Kitale, who participated during surveys and all farmers who offered their time and valuable information.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Kwambai, T., Omunyin, M., Okalebo, J., Kinyua, Z., Gildemacher, P. (2011). Assessment of Potato Bacterial Wilt Disease Status in North Rift Valley of Kenya: A Survey. In: Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Okeyo, J., Maina, F., Kihara, J. (eds) Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2543-2_46
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2543-2_46
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-2541-8
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-2543-2
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)