Parasitism of Loranthaceae on crops: case of plantations in rural area on the periphery of Jean Lorougnon Guédé University of Daloa, Central-West Côte d'Ivoire

In Côte d'Ivoire, tree crops are an important source of agricultural income. Unfortunately, the disquieting expansion of Loranthaceae is observed on many annuity crops like cocoa trees, coffee trees and rubber trees. This situation can harm the economy generated by the activity out coming from these speculations. The aim of this study is therefore, to know the diversity of Loranthaceae and to determine the extent of their infestation on crops, in rural area on the periphery of the University Jean Lorougnon Guédé. The inventories were carried out by surface and roving survey methods coupled with direct observations on individuals of cocoa trees, coffee trees and rubber trees. In total, 3 species of Loranthaceae: Globimetula danglagei, Phragmanthera capitata var. capitata and Tapinanthus bangwensis (T. bangwensis) were inventoried in the plantations. T. bangwensis is the most abundant parasite on crops. Forty-one host species divided into 34 genera and 21 families have been identified within the plantations. The Fabaceae (19.51%) and the Malvaceae (9.75%) are the most infested families. On cocoa trees, coffee trees and rubber trees, the parasitism of Loranthaceae respectively indicated the following pairs of values (incidence and severity index): (42.86±7.02% and 33.99±7.10%), (25.93±11.65% and 21.92±3.11%) and (6.38±0.97% and 6.72±1.55%). The results indicated a significant difference between the incidences of infestation, the crop severity index as a function of Diameter Breast Height (DBH). The incidence of Loranthaceae infestation on all the annuity crops is around 24.93±17.20% and the severity index is 20.88±12.47%.