impact of african cassava mosaic disease on the production of fourteen cultivars of cassava in yangambi, democratic republic of congo

The effects of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) on growth and yield components were systematically determined on 14 different cassava genotypes in Yangambi. The results show that the tested cultivars differed significantly in terms of severity of the virus, harvest index and tuber production (P< 0.05). CMD had a variable depressive effect on vegetative development. Stem dimensions were hardly reduced, while the height of cultivars Ponjo (38%) and Mboloko (29%) and Ponjo, Lofiongi, Bangi as the leaf area of cultivar Mboloko were significantly lower. The impact of CMD on yield components was generally greater on local cultivars and insignificant on resistant varieties. The cultivars Mvuazi (TMS I 95/0528), Mahungu (TMS 92/297), 96/1089A and Disanka (TMS I 95/0211) were not affected by mosaic disease, which confirms their field immunity. Ponjo, Lofiongi and Mboloko cultivars were sensitive. This study underlines that Mvuazi (TMS I 95/0528, Mahungu (TMS 92/297), 96/1089A, Mvuama (TMS 83/138), Disanka (TMS I 95/0211), Lueki (TMS 91/377) and Zizila (MV 99/0038) and local cultivars, such as Timolo, Yauma, Ngonga and Bangi, showed resistance to CMD.