International Journal of Pest Management (2002) 48, 25-28

G. Farrell, S.A. Simons and R.J. Hillocks (2002)
Ustilago kamerunensis on Napier grass in Kenya
International Journal of Pest Management 48 (1), 25-28
Abstract: Napier or elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum Schum., is the major source of fodder for stall-fed dairy cattle in Kenya. In the early 1990s, a new disease, caused by Utilago kamerunensis P. and H. Sydow was reported on the grass. Since there was a lack of information on the general pest and disease status of Napier grass in Kenya, a survey was carried out. The survey confirmed that U. kamerunensis was the major pest and disease threat to Napier grass production in the country, having spread to four districts and occurring in 27% of farm plots sampled. The existence of disease hotspots suggests that the main means of spread is through transport of infected planting material, and that the severity of the disease in Kenya compared with other countries results from an increase in the cultivation of Napier grass over the past decade.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Sarah A. Simons, Rory J. Hillocks

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ustilago kamerunensis	Cenchrus (crop)	Kenya