Occurrence and Damage Levels of Thaumatotibia leucotreta on Capsicum in Selected Counties in Lower Eastern Kenya

Autor: Judith Nabwire Oundo, Shepard Ndlela, Abdelmutalab G. A. Azrag, Dora Kilalo, Florence Olubayo, Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Agriculture, Vol 13, Iss 6, p 1203 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2077-0472
DOI: 10.3390/agriculture13061203
Popis: The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), is believed to have originated from Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, this pest has extensively spread and is found in most parts of Africa, with records in approximately 40 countries in over 100 host plant species. Despite Thaumatotibia leucotreta being the leading cause of interceptions of Capsicum and cut flowers exported by Kenya to the European Union, information on abundance and damage levels inflicted on capsicum is limited. The objective of the study was to assess the abundance and damage levels of T. leucotreta on capsicum in the selected counties in Lower Eastern Kenya (Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties). Higher T. leucotreta larval density per farm was recorded in Kitui County compared to other counties. In farms with capsicum only (not intercropped with other crops), the mean number of FCM larvae was relatively higher in Kitui. Farming practices such as the use of uncertified seeds and seedlings and the excessive use of pesticides may be the major contributors to high larval incidence in Kitui County.
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