Detection and characterization of cashew leaf and nut blight-causing fungi in Southern and Eastern Tanzania

A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyCashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is an important crop for export, income and nutrition in Tanzania. However, its productivity is not optimal due to a number of factors including, growing un-improved cashew genotypes, poor soil fertility, insect pests and diseases. Of these factors, Cashew Leaf and Nut Blight Disease (CLNBD) has been cited as among devastating factors for lower nut yields and quality. The present study investigated the CLNBD incidence and severity on farmers’ cashew fields in the eastern and southern zones of Tanzania and on artificially inoculated cashew elite hybrid seedlings in the screen house experiment at Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)-Naliendele. Samples with disease symptoms collected from surveyed areas were used for detection and characterization of CLNBD-causing pathogens at TARI-Mikocheni. Results showed that there was significant difference (P