Journal of Applied Ecology (1988) 25, 941-950

A.P. Gutierrez, J.S. Yaninek, B. Wermelinger, H.R. Herren and C.K. Ellis (1988)
Analysis of biological control of cassava pests in Africa: III. Cassava green mite Mononychellus tanajoa
Journal of Applied Ecology 25 (3), 941-950
Abstract: (1) The interactions of cassava green mite, Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) s.l., and cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz, under West African weather and soil conditions were examined using a simulation model.
(2) Field studies had demonstrated the effects of plant and leaf age and rainfall-induced mortality on M. tanajoa population growth. In the absence of effective natural enemies, the model explains, in order of importance, the effects of rainfall, drought stress via the host-plant, food availability (production and persistence of new foliage) and leaf quality (N concentration) on M. tanajoa population growth.
(3) Rainfall-induced mortality greatly reduced M. tanajoa populations in the rainy season, drought and N stresses acting indirectly via food availability being most important in the dry season.
(4) The combined effects of M, tanajoa feeding and water and N stress on cassava tuber yield were assessed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Andrew Paul Gutierrez, Beat Wermelinger

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
population dynamics/epizootiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Mononychellus tanajoa	Cassava (Manihot esculenta)