Stephen Larbi-Koranteng

By Joseph Adomako, Stephen Larbi-Koranteng, Frederick Kankam, Yaw Danso, Jerry Fenteng Asamoah, Patricia Oteng-Darko, Kennedy Agyeman, Stephen Yeboah, Erasmus Narteh Tetteh and Eric Owusu Danquah

Ghana’s agricultural economy is largely dominated by the crop subsector with much focus on the production of tree, arable and vegetable crops. Nevertheless, Phytophthora spp. are major threat to the production of these crops contributing significantly to yield reduction. In this review, the main focus will be to look at the threats the pathogen poses to production, economic importance of Phytophthora diseases, highlights some Phytophthora diseases with limited research in the country but have the potential of affecting crop production, management options and the prospect of developing and deploying biological control strategies considered environmentally friendlier and devoid of human health risks to reduce the effect of this pathogen on crop production as well as reducing the dependency on chemical control option.

Part of the book: Agro-Economic Risks of Phytophthora and an Effective Biocontrol Approach

By Frederick Kankam, Stephen Larbi-Koranteng, Joseph Adomako, Joseph Kwowura Kwodaga, Isaac Boatey Akpatsu, Yaw Danso and Elias Nortaa Kunedeb Sowley

Mango is one of the frequently cultivated seasonal fruit crops in several tropical and subtropical regions. It is consumed as whole fruits apart from serving as raw materials for most industries that are into mineral production. Mango production is, however, constrained by diseases, pests, and poor post-harvest handling of fruits. Anthracnose disease, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz and Sacc, is one of the most important yields limiting constraint in mango production across the globe. The disease occurs in both the field and post-harvesting. In the field, it affects aboveground parts, such as the stem, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Anthracnose disease reduces the shelve life and marketability of mango fruit. In Ghana, anthracnose disease is responsible for about 30% yield/fruit loss. Most farmers do not control it, although some have resorted to the application of various fungicides not registered for mango anthracnose disease management in Ghana. This chapter will highlight on the importance of the disease on the mango industry in Ghana, control strategies currently employed thereby reducing the over-reliance on chemical control option and propose ways to minimize the effect of the disease in the country.

Part of the book: Current and Emerging Challenges in the Diseases of Trees

By Stephen Larbi-Koranteng, Frederick Kankam, Joseph Adomako and Muntala Abdulai

Mychorrizae are indigenous soil fungi that are found associated symbiotically with plant root system. They promote growth of the root system by protecting the plant from pathogen attack, acting directly or indirectly as biocontrol agents and offering plant resistance. These group of rhizosphere fungi also benefit from various biosynthetic substances produced by the root of the plant (root exudates). In this chapter, attempt is being made to present a balanced account of the various roles these fungi play in plant protection. This will give our cherish readers the opportunity to appreciate the mycorrhizal fungi as potential biocontrol agents or bioprotectants of soilborne plant pathogens.

Part of the book: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Agriculture