DISTRIBUTION AND DYNAMICS OF NEMATODE POPULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CASSAVA (Manihotesculenta Crantz) CULTIVATION IN TWO MAIN PRODUCTION AREAS IN COTE DIVOIRE

Plant parasitic nematodes associated with cassava cultivation in Cote dIvoire have received very little public attention. This study aimsat updating information on nematodes associated with cassava. Surveys were carried out in cassava fieldsin five localities spread over two agroecological zones so as to collect cassava soil and root samples. The nematodes were extracted, identified, quantified and their distributionmapped. Sixteen nematode genera were extracted from cultivation soils, six of which includingGracilacus, Helicotylenchus, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Radopholus and Tylenchulus were extracted from cassava roots. Gracilacus and Meloidogyne were extracted from cassava roots from all localities. Local and improved cassava varieties were infected with nematodes. Gracilacus was mainly extracted from cassava roots in Adzope, Agboville and Dabou at frequencies ranging from 48.43 to 56.58%. Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus were the main nematodes extracted from cultivation soils in Gagnoa (46.81%) and Yamoussoukro (78.15%) respectively. The numbers of Gracilacus in Adzope, Agboville and Dabou, Meloidogyne in Agboville, Dabou and Gagnoa, Pratylenchus in Dabou and Yamoussoukro and Radopholus in Adzope increased in cultivation soils with the age of cassava plants.