Influence of African Cassava Mosaic Disease (ACMD) on the Proximate, Mineral and Anti-Nutrient Composition of the Stem Cuttings of Manihot esculenta CRANTZ
1Uboh, D. G., 2SAM, S. M., 3Edet, E. A. and, 4Bassey, I. N.
1Department of Science Technology, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Nigeria
2Department of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria
3Department of Science Technology, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Nigeria
4Department of Botany and Ecological Studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
Email: ubohdg@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The utilization of the stem cuttings of most cassava varieties for agricultural and research purposes are sometimes limited due to disease attack and poor understanding of their nutritional and anti-nutritional status. In this research, test plants were sourced and propagated in a completely randomized design method. Five months post propagation (PP), infected and healthy stem cuttings (0 – 20cm) of M. esculenta were obtained and analyzed for elemental, proximate and anti-nutrient contents using standard protocols as described by Association of Official Analytical Chemist. The results of elemental composition revealed that ACMD caused significant reductions (P < 0.05) in most elements assayed. The mean values of 13.83 ± 0.31, 11.25 ± 0.20 and 27.30 ± 0.30 mg/100g were obtained for phosphorus, calcium and iron in infected sample against the values of 25.08 ± 0.41, 16.20 ± 1.11 and 31.63 ± 0.10 mg/100g for healthy sample. Besides lipid and ash amounts, other proximates analyzed were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the diseased than healthy sample. The ACMD-infected plant showed significant increases in all the anti-nutrient values studied when compared with the corresponding values obtained for the uninfected plant. ACMD can be controlled by the use of resistant varieties and adherence to best phytosanitational measures during and after propagation.
