Penja pepper under threat in Cameroon!

“Penja Pepper” (Piper nigrum L.) is cultivated in the Penja region of Cameroon. It is famous for its exceptional aroma and taste. However, in Cameroon pepper is attacked by various diseases. Moreover, the support tree used for growing pepper vines in Cameroon, Spondias mombin, is also subject to disease attacks. objectives In order to maintain the viability of Penja Pepper cultivation, these diseases must be identified and controlled. The aim of this study was to identify the principal pathogens of black pepper vines and its support tree. Methods : Samples from pepper vines, S. mombin and the soil were collected from various fields in the Penja region. Using a combination of baiting and selective agar medium techniques several potential causal agents were isolated. The isolated microorganisms were identified based on morphology as well as ITS sequencing. Conclusions : Eight oomycete isolates were obtained from pepper and 18 basidiomycete isolates from either pepper or S. mombin. The eight oomycete isolates of Pepper were tentatively identified as Phytopythium vexans and/or P. cucurbitacearum. The morphological identification of the basidiomycete isolates show that it is an Armillaria sp. Pathogenicity tests were carried out with 180 days old pepper plants. The plants were inoculated with discs of mycelium introduced in the soil and on the collar. This is the first time that Armillaria is found to be pathogenic to pepper as well as its support tree Spondias mombin. The importance of these finding for controlling these diseases to safeguard the sustainable production of the Penja Pepper of Cameroon is discussed.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Petchayo Tigang, Sandrine, Mfegue, Crescence Virginie, Nguefack, Julienne, Tchotet, T.J.M., Begoude, B.A.D., Ducamp, Michel, Djeugap, J.F., Ten Hoopen, Gerben Martijn
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	s.n.
Subjects:	H20 - Maladies des plantes, Piper nigrum, contrôle de maladies, identification, Armillaria, Pythium, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5919, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2327, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3791, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_620, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6394, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1229,
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/579151/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/579151/7/ID579151.pdf
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