Spread of Bacterial Wilt Disease of Potatoes in Kenya: Who is to Blame?

Muthoni, Jane; Kabira, Jackson N.; Shimelis, Hussein; Melis, Rob

doi:10.5376/ijh.2014.04.0003

Cited by 16 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…However, [3] reported late blight to be the most damaging potato disease in Kenya. High prevalence of these two diseases could be due to use of poor quality seed tubers from informal seed systems with high infection levels with seed borne diseases [6,47]. High prevalence of bacterial wilt disease across the four study sites can be attributed to poor farming practices and use of contaminated farm saved seed.…”

Section: Seed Potato Production Practices By Small-scale Farmersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, [5] reported 74% bacterial wilt incidence in Kenya. In addition, [47] reported 70% incidence of bacterial wilt in Kenya causing over 50% yield loss. Use of seed potato from informal supply systems has proliferated spread of the disease.…”

Section: Physical Quality and Infection With Tuber-borne Disease Pathmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…High prevalence of bacterial wilt disease across the four study sites can be attributed to poor farming practices and use of contaminated farm saved seed. Studies by [47] attributed the spread of bacterial wilt to be due to continuous monocropping, contaminated runoff water and tools which are all common practices among small scale-farmers potato farmers in Kenya. Increased prevalence of late blight is due to use of infected seed tubers from informal sources and the disease can cause total yield loss [3].…”

Section: Seed Potato Production Practices By Small-scale Farmersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seed Potato Production Practices and Quality of Farm Saved Seed Potato in Kiambu and Nyandarua Counties in Kenya

Mumia¹,

Muthomi²,

Narla³

et al. 2018

WJAR

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Potato production in Kenya is mainly constrained by limited supply of quality seed potato tubers. The objective of this study was to determine seed potato handling practices and quality of farm saved seed potato. A survey involving 79 farmers was conducted in potato production areas in Kiambu and Nyandarua Counties to collect information on seed potato production practices including sources of seed tubers, seed selection, seed tuber storage, pests and diseases. Samples of seed potato were collected from farmers and evaluated for quality parameters such as tuber size, weight, stout sprout length and infection with diseases. Factors affecting potato production included limited quality seed supply, pests and diseases. Shangi was the main potato variety grown by majority (62.8%) of farmers and all the farmers used own farm saved seed. Most (45.5%) farmers recycled the seed for four seasons and 44.1% of farmers stored seed potato for three months. Freeness from seedborne diseases was the main seed quality preference by farmers. The main pest reported was cutworms (42.6% of farmers) while potato late blight and bacterial wilt were the major diseases reported by 87.1% and 86.7% of the farmers respectively. All farm saved seed potato samples were infected with Fusarium coeruleum, 51.2% with Rhizoctonia solani, 53.3% with Fusarium sambunicum, 33.3% with Fusarium solani and 48.3% with Aspergillus niger. Over 69% of the farm saved seed samples were infected with Ralstonia solanacearum while 40.1% were infected with Potato Virus S, the most dominant. Due to poor post-harvest handling practices, farmers incurred seed quality and quantity losses in storage. Farm saved seed is contaminated with multiple seed borne diseases. Farmers should be sensitized on appropriate seed potato handling practices and there should be increased supply of certified seed potato.

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Section: Seed Potato Production Practices By Small-scale Farmersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Physical Quality and Infection With Tuber-borne Disease Pathmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seed Potato Production Practices By Small-scale Farmersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seed Potato Production Practices and Quality of Farm Saved Seed Potato in Kiambu and Nyandarua Counties in Kenya

Mumia¹,

Muthomi²,

Narla³

et al. 2018

WJAR

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show abstract

“…These features make the disease difficult to control and no single control method was found to be totally effective (Champoiseau et al 2009). Potato crop losses between 50 and 100% due to PBW have been reported in Kenya (Muthoni et al 2014a) and up to 75% in Australia (Stansbury et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An integrated strategy for these methods is recommended for reducing the incidence of bacterial wilt (Champoiseau et al 2010;Martin and French 1985). Several studies have been conducted on the occurrence, spread and management of PBW in East Africa (Kurabachew and Ayana 2017;Kwambai et al 2011;Lemaga et al 2001;Lemaga et al 2005;Muthoni et al 2012;Muthoni et al 2013;Muthoni et al 2014a;2014). Within the region, a number of efforts to control PBW have been made, but the disease remains devastating due to lack of healthy (or certified) potato seed, infested soils and lack of knowledge about disease management among farmers (Gikunda 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potato bacterial wilt in Rwanda: occurrence, risk factors, farmers’ knowledge and attitudes

et al. 2018

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Potato is an important food commodity and efforts to increase its productivity should focus on addressing production limiting factors. Potato bacterial wilt (PBW) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the major constraints to potato production in Rwanda and no single method effectively controls the disease. Development of a sustainable management approach requires understanding of PBW distribution, risk factors, farmers' knowledge and management attitudes. Therefore, we surveyed PBW disease and interviewed farmers in eight districts of Rwanda during March-April 2015. We detected PBW in all the surveyed districts and it was ranked as the major potato disease constraint. Among districts, disease incidence and severity varied from 5 to 24% and 3 to 13%, respectively, and was significantly higher in minor compared to major potato growing districts. Low PBW incidence and severity were associated with high altitude and low planting density, intercropping, crop rotation and avoidance of sharing farm tools. In all districts, farmers had little knowledge about PBW detection and spread, and the farmers' awareness of PBW management was often inconsistent with their practices. This incomplete knowledge about PBW was likely caused by inadequate extension services since most information about PBW was acquired from fellow farmers, parents or other relatives. Thus raising awareness of PBW and integrated disease management, including practices that are associated with low PBW, could limit the impact of this disease and help to secure food and income for potato growing farmers in Rwanda.

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Can rooted apical cuttings complement seed systems to improve availability of quality seed potato in Africa?—The case of Kenya

Wauters

Hutchings²,

Munguti

et al. 2023

Crop Science

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Limited availability and access to quality seed is a major challenge faced by the Kenyan potato subsector. Smallholder farmers cultivate the bulk of potato mainly planting seed from informal sources without any quality assurance which contributes to low yields. In recent years, private sector businesses have engaged in certified seed potato production with positive impact on the volumes available, relying on minitubers to multiply in the field over three to four generations. Rooted apical cuttings (RACs) provide a productive alternative starter material that can further boost the Kenyan seed systems. Stokman Rozen Kenya Ltd (SRK) is a private sector business that has embraced this technology in 2017. Also, small‐scale nurseries have recently started the commercial production of cuttings. They both sell RACs mainly to seed growers for further bulking, but ware potato farmers can also produce quality seed on‐farm for their own use from RACs when applying good agricultural practices. This paper examines the initial experiences of both SRK and small‐scale nurseries in the production and marketing of RACs as well as their performance during subsequent field multiplications. Producing and selling RACs offers a profitable business opportunity, especially when productivity and sales increase. Compared to other rapid multiplication technologies, RACs also allow to significantly increase the volumes of early generation seed produced. Key recommendations are to create awareness and to develop adequate marketing strategies to promote their uptake, and to ensure RACs are adequately multiplied into commercial seed to improve its availability to smallholder farmers in Kenya.

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Spread of Bacterial Wilt Disease of Potatoes in Kenya: Who is to Blame?

Cited by 16 publications

References 4 publications

Seed Potato Production Practices and Quality of Farm Saved Seed Potato in Kiambu and Nyandarua Counties in Kenya

Seed Potato Production Practices and Quality of Farm Saved Seed Potato in Kiambu and Nyandarua Counties in Kenya

Potato bacterial wilt in Rwanda: occurrence, risk factors, farmers’ knowledge and attitudes

Can rooted apical cuttings complement seed systems to improve availability of quality seed potato in Africa?—The case of Kenya

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