The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is the vector of cassava mosaic viruses causing cassava viral diseases, which are the most important biotic constraints of cassava production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Presently, B. tabaci management in cassava fields calls for the development of an integrated approach that relies on host plant resistance and biological control. Data on B. tabaci's natural enemies, particularly parasitoids, in Central Africa are limited. Field surveys were conducted from 2015 to 2017 to identify parasitoids associated with B. tabaci in 5 Cameroon agro-ecological zones. Additionally, population dynamics studies were conducted in replicated fields experiments were conducted from 2016 to 2018 to identify cassava genotypes that can best promote B. tabaci parasitism. Two parasitoids, Encarsia sophia (Girault & Dodd) and Encarsia lutea (Masi) were found parasitizing B. tabaci nymphs with higher parasitism by E. lutea compared with E. sophia. The average parasitism rate during the survey was 33.4% for E. lutea and 8.4% for E. Sophia, regardless of AEZ. The highest parasitism rates by E. lutea (48.2% and 24.2% from field trials and surveys, respectively) were observed in the Western Highlands (AEZ 3) while parasitism by E. sophia was less than 12.4%. Four cassava genotypes (I090590, I011797, I090574, and I070593) promoted higher parasitism rates of B. tabaci by E. lutea and E sophia. The contributions of the two parasitoids and their integration with cassava genotypes for the management of B. tabaci in cassava fields are discussed.

We are grateful to the Agricultural Investment and Market Development Project jointly funded by the Cameroon government, Japan Policy and Human Resource Development Trust Fund, the World Bank, and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Program on Roots, Tubers, and Bananas for sponsoring this study. The authors acknowledge the administrative and logistic support from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Agricultural Research Institute for ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106241

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Fotso Kuate, A.https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5247-7519

Samuel Nanga Nangahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4281-8284

Peter Kulakowhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7574-2645

P. Lava Kumarhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4388-6510

Komi Fiaboehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5113-2159

Rachid Hannahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5715-0144

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106241

Biotech and Plant Breeding; Natural Resource Management; Plant Production and Health

Agronomy; Cassava; Disease Control; Food Security; Plant Breeding; Plant Diseases; Plant Health; Plant Production

Biological Control; Host Plant Resistance; Encarsia; Cassava; Central Africa

Africa; Central Africa

Cameroon

Central Africa Hub; Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Crop Protection