Heat Therapy of Cassava Infected with African Cassava Mosaic Disease

Abstract

The pathogen was eradicated from 33-44% of tip cuttings (1-1.5 cm long) after hot-air treatment of mother plants at 37 deg C for 87-105 days. Survival of these tip cuttings after 35-105 days was 22-73%. Exposure of entire plants to hot air treatment at 37 deg for 47-96 days caused temporary remission of symptoms in most plants. Only 1 of 129 surviving plants were freed from disease. Two successive hot-water treatments of diseased stem cuttings at 50 or 55 deg for varying intervals were not therapeutic.