Research Article
Socio-epidemiological Characterization and Phytosanitary Diagnosis of Southern Blight Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Vegetable Production Systems in Côte d’Ivoire
Barakissa Bamba*,
Seydou Tuo
,
Souleymane Coulibaly,
Aminata Dembélé,
Daouda Koné
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
69-87
Received:
19 June 2025
Accepted:
2 July 2025
Published:
22 July 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajbio.20251303.11
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Abstract: Southern blight, or white mold, caused by Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.), represents an emerging and concerning phytosanitary constraint threatening the sustainability of vegetable production systems in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly in agro-ecological zones with high production density. This study aimed to establish an epidemiological and socio-agronomic diagnosis of the disease, analyze farmers’ perceptions, and evaluate local phytosanitary management practices from a sustainability perspective. A multidisciplinary and participatory approach was implemented between 2021 and 2022 across six agro-ecological zones, combining phytopathological surveys on 223 plots, semi-structured interviews with producers, and morpho-diagnostic laboratory analyses. The results revealed a high disease prevalence, affecting 64.57% of the plots, with a maximum incidence of 34.44% and severity reaching 22.59% in the AEZ IV. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) was the most affected host, followed by eggplant, peanut, and bean. Despite this widespread distribution, farmers’ knowledge remained limited. Only 52.91% of the producers recognized the symptoms from the images, and barely 13% could identify characteristic fungal structures (mycelium, sclerotia), which correlated with a high illiteracy rate (72.65%). The observed cultural practices (high-risk crop rotations, empirical fungicide applications, lack of effective prophylactic measures) were largely inappropriate. Multifactorial analyses indicated a significant influence of education level, gender, and geographic zone on farmers’ disease knowledge. These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen farmers’ capacities through targeted training, integration of indigenous knowledge, and promotion of integrated management strategies within a context-specific framework for the sustainable management of southern blight in Ivorian vegetable production systems.
Abstract: Southern blight, or white mold, caused by Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.), represents an emerging and concerning phytosanitary constraint threatening the sustainability of vegetable production systems in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly in agro-ecological zones with high production density. This study aimed to establish an epidemiological and socio-agronomic...
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