EVALUATION OF RESISTANCE IN ELITE CASHEW ACCESSIONS TO XANTHOMONAS CITRI PV. MANGIFERAEINDICAE IN BURKINA FASO

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) plays a vital socio-economic role in Burkina Faso, particularly benefiting rural communities and contributing to agricultural diversification. However, the sector faces significant challenges from pests and diseases, notably bacterial canker caused by Xanthomonas citri pv. mangiferaeindicae. This study evaluates the resistance of 15 elite cashew accessions to this pathogen under controlled greenhouse conditions. Two bacterial strains, LM6.1 and LH127.2, were used for inoculation. Disease progression was assessed using the area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC) and bacterial population quantification. Accessions CE200 and CE260 exhibited the highest tolerance, with significantly lower AUDPC values and bacterial populations, indicating strong potential for resistance breeding. In contrast, accessions CE10 and CE420 were highly susceptible. Positive correlations between AUDPC and bacterial populations underscore the utility of these metrics for resistance assessment. The findings highlight the genetic variability among cashew accessions, providing valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at developing resistant cultivars to enhance sustainable cashew production.