Wokorach Godfrey, Edema Hilary, Echodu Richard
Gulu University Biosciences Research Laboratories, P. O. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, P. O. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda.
Afr J Agric Res. 2018;13(45). doi: 10.5897/AJAR2018.13384. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
Viral infections greatly limit sweetpotato yields. Good farming practices are critical for effective disease management. 383 Ugandan farmers were surveyed to document symptom incidence, crop-management practices, and buyer preferences. Results showed that 89.27% farmers grow sweet potatoes yearly and 62.76% of these farmers were female. A total of 56.83% farmers obtained vine seeds from their previous gardens, 25.85% from neighbours, and 12.20% purchased. Only ~8% of sellers and ~4% of buyers were selected for disease-free materials. None of the farmers who used vine-cutting knives sterilised them. Almost half of farmers (47%) observed whitefly or aphids but most were unaware they are viral vectors. Most farmers (77%) observed viral symptoms, but few (<2%) recognised them as infections. Insufficient knowledge of sweetpotato viruses and their vectors is common and increases the risk of spread. Practices like vine selling, sharing of vines coupled with insufficient knowledge on sweet potato viruses and its vectors among farmers increase the risk of virus spread among different farms.
病毒感染极大地限制了甘薯产量。良好的种植 practices 对有效的病害管理至关重要。对383名乌干达农民进行了调查，以记录症状发生率、作物管理 practices 和买家偏好。结果显示，89.27% 的农民每年种植甘薯，其中62.76% 为女性。共有56.83% 的农民从他们以前的菜园获得藤蔓种子，25.85% 来自邻居，12.20% 是购买的。只有约8% 的卖家和约4% 的买家选择了无病材料。使用藤蔓切割刀的农民中没有一人对其进行消毒。几乎一半的农民（47%）观察到粉虱或蚜虫，但大多数人不知道它们是病毒载体。大多数农民（77%）观察到病毒症状，但很少有人（<2%）将其识别为感染。对甘薯病毒及其载体的了解不足很常见，这增加了传播风险。像藤蔓销售、藤蔓共享等 practices，再加上农民对甘薯病毒及其载体的了解不足，增加了病毒在不同农场之间传播的风险。
