African Cassava mosaic disease (ACMD) is the most severe and widespread disease caused by viruses limiting production of the crop in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of the present study was to evaluate CMD incidence, severity, and gravity under different agro-environmental conditions. A total of 222 fields were surveyed in 23 different locations. All the farmers grow only local cassava varieties without applications of fertilizers. Overall, mean CMD incidences for all sites surveyed were 58.2% and 51.7%, in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Disease severity ranged from 2.4 to 3.1 on a scale of 1 to 5. Mean disease gravity varied from 29.7% to 62%, in 2010, and 2009, respectively. Detailed analysis of agronomic and environmental revealed no significant association between cassava stand locations, age, land topography and the development of CMD. Likewise intercropping practices and field topping did not affect the development of CMD in all the fields surveyed. There were significant differences in the number of white flies (Bemisia tabaci) per plant in 2009 and 2010, but no significant correlations between the number of B. tabaci per plant and CMD incidence, severity, and gravity was found. In most fields, CMD appears to originate mostly from unhealthy cassava cuttings used for planting.

The responses of eight genetically improved and eight local cassava varieties to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) were evaluated under field conditions at two sites, in Eastern Kasaï, region of the DR-Congo). The varieties were planted using randomized complete block design with three replications. The rate of cuttings sprouted varied significantly from variety to variety and from location to location. Local varieties were severely infected than improved varieties throughout the trial period. In general, the level of CMD incidence for genetically improved varieties was below 15% while it reached 100% for the local cassava varieties six months after planting (MAP). This trend was also observed for the CMD severity and gravity. The mean scores for CMD severity were 2 and 3.6 for genetically improved and local varieties, respectively at 6 MAP. CMD gravity for improved varieties was below 21% for genetically improved varieties and exceeded 85% for local varieties at the end of trials. Area Under the Severity index Progress Curve (AUSiPC) and Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) estimates confirmed that improved varieties were moderately infested comparatively to local varieties. Molecular analysis is being conducted to determine the genetic variability and complexity of the cassava mosaic virus strains involved.

Cassava bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis has been reported in several African countries since 1970. Knowledge of the virulence and diversity of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis strains is important for an integrated control of CBB. The main objective of the present study was to characterize strains of Xanthomonas axonopodis collected from various regions in the DR-Congo. There was variability among strains for shape (form), contour (margin) and elevation. Bacterial cell size for the strains analyzed varied from 24.1 µm × 11.3 µm to 11.4 µm × 4.2 µm. All the Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis strains but one was motile. Two distinctive groups were identified based on radial growth of their colonies. The first group grows faster (7.8 -10.5 mm/d) compared to the second group (4.8 -6.9 mm/d). Five strains (Gandajika, Inera/Stat, Kansasa, Mulumba and Musakatshi) were classified as virulent with a damage rating ≤ 1 and four were aggressive (Luputa, M'vuazi, Boketa and Kiyaka) with a damage rating ˃ 1. Significant differences were also observed among strains for disease onset, incidence and plant mortality. The highest incidence (33%) of bacterial blight 21 days after infestation (DAI) resulted from the Boketa strain inoculation and the lowest ( G. Mamba-Mbayi et al.

Cassava serves as primary staple food of millions of people in the tropics and subtropics, and is used as a carbohydrate source in animal feed. Knowledge of agro-morphological characteristics and genetic relatedness is essential for an efficient recombination of varieties in a breeding program. The objective of the present study was to determine genetic relatedness and morpho-agronomic differentiation among Congolese cassava

The influence of NPK fertilizer on the incidence, severity and gravity of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) was investigated using eight genetically improved cassava varieties and eight local farmer's varieties. The study was carried out in a savannah region (Gandajika) in D.R. Congo at two locations. The varieties were planted with and without NPK fertilization. Application of NPK fertilizer significantly (P<0.05) increased CMD incidence, severity (AUDPC) and gravity overtime compared to the trials without fertilizers for all the improved cassava varieties evaluated. The CMD incidence remained below 30% of infected plants for improved cassava varieties and reached 100% of plants for local varieties during the six months trial. The same trend was observed for CMD gravity (number of infected leaves per plant) that was below 50% for improved varieties while reaching 100% for all the local varieties at 6 MAP. High incidence and gravity of CMD were observed on local varieties just one month after planting. NPK fertilizers increased significantly the CMD incidence and gravity compared to control site during the first month after plantation. Thereafter, the effect of NPK fertilizer on CMD symptom expression was not noticeable since all the plants from local varieties were infected regardless of the fertilization regimen.