Survival of Oidium anacardii on cashew (Anacardium occidentale) in southern Tanzania

During March and April of 1993 and 1994, surveys on the incidence and severity of cashew powdery mildew ( Oidium anacardii ) were conducted in the Newala, Mtwara, Nachingwea and Tunduru areas of southern Tanzania to determine the variation in perennation between localities. Only immature cashew shoots, panicles and fruit can be infected by O. anacardii conidia. Cashew trees at sites in each district were assessed for shoot and panicle production and cashew powdery mildew. Survival of O. anacardii between seasons, in any area, was determined by the degree of production of shoots that were within the canopy and by the incidence of infection. Immature shoots produced from the main branches within the tree canopy were the main source of active powdery mildew in all districts; trees in the Newala district had the highest numbers of infected immature shoots in comparison with survey sites in the other areas. During the 1994 cashew-growing season (June–August), powdery mildew developed more rapidly and affected more shoots on the inside of the tree canopy than on the outside. Germination of conidia was reduced after aqueous suspension for 3 h. Germination on cashew leaves submerged under 2 mm of water was not affected. Appressorial and hyphal formation by germinating conidia on leaves decreased with increasing duration under water. Germination of conidia on glass slides at 100% r.h. was higher at 25 and 30°C than at 15°C and there was no germination at 35°C.