Tree diversity and canopy cover in cocoa systems in Ghana

Asare, Richard; Ræbild, Anders

doi:10.1007/s11056-015-9515-3

Cited by 41 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Our data suggest that cocoa agroforestry systems with shade levels between 45% and 65% may be optimal to balance between richness of termite pest species and marketable yield and may help to increase the role of beneficial termites. These results are in line with shade levels recommended for good agronomic practices in cocoa cultivation (Asare & Raebild, 2016;Bisseleua et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Consequences of shade management on the taxonomic patterns and functional diversity of termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in cocoa agroforestry systems

Felicitas

Hervé

Ekesi

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Termites have gained importance as major pests in cocoa agroforests. Proper identification of termite species and knowledge on their functional diversity are the first steps in developing environmentally compatible management strategies. We tested the hypothesis that patterns of termite species richness in different cocoa agroforests is related to responses by termite functional groups to changes in shade management. We compared termite assemblages under five cocoa agroforestry systems in Cameroon to assess the impact of shade on termite taxonomic and functional group diversity. Sampling was done using a modified standardized transect method. Two 30 × 30 m quadrates each divided into three transects were laid in four farms at each site. Termites sampled were identified and grouped according to habitats, functional groups, and feeding habits. Sixty‐nine termite species in 33 genera and five subfamilies under two families were sampled. Termitidae was the most dominant family and Rhinotermitidae the least dominant with few species. Termite species richness decreased significantly from the heavy shaded cocoa agroforests (44 species) to the full sun (11 species). Functional group pattern differed significantly in all the cocoa agroforests and within each agroforestry system and dominated by wood and litter feeder species. Many species belonging to this group were responsible to most damages on cocoa trees. Both the richness of termite pests and marketable yield followed a quadratic curve and were found to be lowest and highest in plots with shade cover above 40%. The simulated optimal shade levels for low termite infestations and marketable yield overlapped between 45% and 65% indicating that cocoa agroforestry systems with around 55% shade cover may be optimal to balance termite infestations and marketable yield. Shade maintenance in cocoa agroforests is valuable in reducing termite pest species and conserving soil feeding termites which provide beneficial ecosystem services.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Consequences of shade management on the taxonomic patterns and functional diversity of termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in cocoa agroforestry systems

Felicitas

Hervé

Ekesi

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…stand for "instructed" and "implemented," respectively. as a key adaptive action for both environmental stewardship and livelihood provision. Accordingly, four out of the nine adaptive techniques identified as pertinent in Table 3 relate to shade trees, namely: (i) diversifying into other crops which could shade cocoa; (ii) the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG)-the research division of Cocobod-recommendation of maintaining a density of 16-18 shade trees per hectare (Manu and Tetteh, 1987), to provide canopy cover of 30-40% shade (Anim- Kwapong and Frimpong, 2004;Asare and Raebild, 2016); (iii) information on shade tree species; and (iv) advice on registering shade trees to strengthen farmers' claims to have rights to their shade trees. Although Cocobod-through its research division, CRIG-does uphold the recommendation of 16-18 shade trees (of about 12 m in height) per hectare, imparting the complex particulars of this recommendation to Ghana's 800,000 cocoa farmers via a limited number of government extension officers is cumbersome at best, and impossible at worst.…”

Section: Implmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural Information's Impact on the Adaptive Capacity of Ghana's Smallholder Cocoa Farmers

Maguire‐Rajpaul

Khatun

Hirons

2020

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Ghanaian smallholders grow one quarter of the world's cocoa, but climate change, individual extreme weather events, such as droughts, as well as deforestation increasingly threaten cocoa production. Pertinent information could bolster adaptive capacity. However, in Ghana's cocoa sector, relevant agricultural information is not available to all farmers, which can exacerbate power asymmetries. This paper focuses on how (i) agricultural and drought-adaptive information and (ii) socioeconomic characteristics shape a cocoa farmer's adaptive capacity. We conducted our study in the aftermath of 2015-16's prolonged El Niño-induced drought that negatively impacted the livelihoods of cocoa smallholders across Ghana. In 48 semi-structured interviews and 12 focus groups, we asked smallholders how they responded to the drought to decipher how adaptive capacity compares between farmers receiving four different sources of agricultural information, and of diverse socioeconomic status. Overall, agricultural information improved cocoa farmers' adaptive capacity compared to those who received no formal agricultural information. Smallholders detailed adaptive techniques that would be accessible to, and thus replicable by, other poorly-resourced cocoa farmers. Shade tree management and income diversification were identified as pertinent adaptive actions. However, we identified a divergence between exposure to agricultural information and its transformation into substantive adaptive action. Additionally, informal information sharing between smallholders represents an underutilized resource by extension programmes. We found that adaptive capacity is also determined by socioeconomic characteristics: particularly gender, and to a lesser extent formal education level, proximity to asphalt roads, and land tenure. Finally, we present evidence that framing adaptive techniques in relatable terms that resonate with farmers' immediate livelihood concerns could narrow the adaptation deficit prevalent in Ghana's cocoa sector.

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“…Schum., Cola gigantean A. Chev., and Sterculia tragacantha Lindl [ 61 – 63 ], and are among ~90 species in 30 plant families used as shade for cacao and other crops [ 64 ]. Molecular confirmation of suspect CSSD host-infection and accurate badnavirus identification when found, are important first steps to enabling knowledge of CSSD-badnavirus evolution and origin to be reconciled with specific epidemiological factors leading to outbreaks, to inform short-term management approaches and CSSD breeding strategies to enable sustainable production of the crop in the long term.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The proposed new species, cacao red vein virus, and three previously recognized badnavirus species are associated with cacao swollen shoot disease

Chingandu

Kouakou

Aka

et al. 2017

Virol J

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Background Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV), Cacao swollen shoot CD virus (CSSCDV), and Cacao swollen shoot Togo A virus (CSSTAV) cause cacao swollen shoot disease (CSSD) in West Africa. During 2000–2003, leaf and shoot-swelling symptoms and rapid tree death were observed in cacao in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. Molecular tests showed positive infection in only ~50–60% of symptomatic trees, suggesting the possible emergence of an unknown badnavirus.MethodsThe DNA virome was determined from symptomatic cacao samples using Illumina-Hi Seq, and sequence accuracy was verified by Sanger sequencing. The resultant 14, and seven previously known, full-length badnaviral genomic and RT-RNase H sequences were analyzed by pairwise distance analysis to resolve species relationships, and by Maximum likelihood (ML) to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships. The viral coding and non-coding sequences, genome organization, and predicted conserved protein domains (CPDs) were identified and characterized at the species level.ResultsThe 21 CSSD-badnaviral genomes and RT-RNase H sequences shared 70–100% and 72–100% identity, respectively. The RT-RNase H analysis predicted four species, based on an ≥80% species cutoff. The ML genome sequence tree resolved three well-supported clades, with ≥70% bootstrap, whereas, the RT-RNase H phylogeny was poorly resolved, however, both trees grouped CSSD isolates within one large clade, including the newly discovered Cacao red vein virus (CRVV) proposed species. The genome arrangement of the four species consists of four, five, or six predicted open reading frames (ORFs), and the CPDs have similar architectures. By comparison, two New World cacao-infecting badnaviruses encode four ORFs, and harbor CPDs like the West African species.ConclusionsThree previously recognized West African cacao-infecting badnaviral species were identified, and a fourth, previously unidentified species, CRVV, is described for the first time. The CRVV is a suspect causal agent of the rapid decline phenotype, however Koch’s Postulates have not been proven. To reconcile viral evolutionary with epidemiology considerations, more detailed information about CSSD-genomic variability is essential. Also, the functional basis for the multiple genome arrangements and subtly distinct CPD architectures among cacao-infecting badnaviruses is poorly understood. New knowledge about functional relationships may help explain the diverse symptomatologies observed in affected cacao trees.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12985-017-0866-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Tree diversity and canopy cover in cocoa systems in Ghana

Cited by 41 publications

References 22 publications

Consequences of shade management on the taxonomic patterns and functional diversity of termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in cocoa agroforestry systems

Consequences of shade management on the taxonomic patterns and functional diversity of termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in cocoa agroforestry systems

Agricultural Information's Impact on the Adaptive Capacity of Ghana's Smallholder Cocoa Farmers

The proposed new species, cacao red vein virus, and three previously recognized badnavirus species are associated with cacao swollen shoot disease

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