JCBPS; Section B; November 2020 –January 2021, Vol. 11, No. 1; 125-136, E- ISSN: 2249 –1929 [DOI: 10.24214/jcbps.B.11.1.12536.] Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences An International Peer Review E-3 Journal of Sciences Available online atwww.jcbsc.org Section B: Biological Sciences CODEN (USA): JCBPAT Research Article Management of insect pests and diseases of cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale L.) in production areas Rachidatou Sikirou1 Léopold Simplice Gnancadja-André 2, Dénis E. Tonon Houndahouan1,2, Aristide C. Adomou2, Valérien Zinsou3 1Laboratoire de la Défense des Cultures (LDC), Centre de Recherches Agricoles d‟Agonkanmey, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin (INRAB), 01 BP 884 Cotonou, Bénin. 2Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale et de Stress Environnementaux, Département de Biologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d‟Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Bénin. 3Faculté d‟Agronomie, Université de Parakou (UP), BP 123 Parakou, Bénin. Received: 11 December 2020; Revised: 24 December 2020; Accepted: 03 January 2021 Abstract: The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a growing cash crop. Its nuts represent an export opportunity for Africa and an attractive economic alternative for producing countries. However, several abiotic and biotic factors compromise its productivity. Insects‟ pests such as Mecocorynus loripes, Apate terebrans, Helopeltis spp., Pseudotherapus wayi, Pseudococcus longispinus, Anoplocnemis curvipes are the most harmful to cashew plantation. Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides followed by bacterial blight due to Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. anacardii and powdery mildew caused by Oidium anacardii are the main damaging diseases. The pestalotiosis insited by Pestalotia heterocornis and rust caused by Cryptosporiopsis spp. are minor. Control methods are mainly based on the use of pesticides, cultural practices, resistant varieties and biological control. The insects pest control methods considered include mechanical management and cultural, chemical and resistance assessment approaches. Despite the reported economic damage caused to producers by cashew pests and diseases, there is little up-to-date critical information on their current status and management in Africa. Therefore, this review article examines 125 JCBPS; Section B; November 2020 –January 2021, Vol. 11, No. 1; 125-136. [DOI:10.24214/jcbps.B.11.1.12536.] Management… Rachidatou Sikirou et al. the status of the major cashew nut pests and diseases and their management methods. This information will be essential for farmers to make significant improvements in cashew nut production in Africa. Keywords: Cashew nuts, pests, control methods, diseases, Africa 1. INTRODUCTION The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) is native of Brazilian coast [1]. Originaly, planted to protect the ecosystem, heavily affected by deforestation, the cashew tree is nowadays cultivated for its fruits nuts and tree. It importance is currently increasing among the agricultural export products and represents a major socio-economic interest for the world [2]. Regarding its given this potential, the cashew sector has now shown a spectacular development in most tropical production regions of the world. However, the majority of production is concentrated in the following four major regions of the world: Southeast Asia, Brazil, East Africa and West Africa [3]. Globally, cashew plantations cover an area of 5,972,724 ha with an annual production of 5,932,507 tons of cashew nuts [4]. In Africa, 1,825,984 tons of cashew nuts were annually harvested from area of 3,646,846 ha [4]. A large part of the produced nuts is intended for exported and the rest is subjected to local processing. The cashew apple is also partially processed into fruit juice, food alcohol and vinegar [5,6]. Thus, cashew cultivation constitutes an interesting alternative for the economy of producing countries [5,7]. Nutritionally, cashew kernels are rich in protein, vitamins B, D, K and C and mono-unsaturated fatty acids. It contains a lot of mineral elements such as magnesium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, calcium, iron and selenium [3]. Therapeutically, the bark and apple of the cashew tree are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of bronchitis, cough, diabetes, diuretics, intestinal colic, syphilis, ulcers and urinary diseases [8]. Despite the multiple services provided by cashew plants, related to nutritional, economic, environmental and social, they are subject to several biotic and abiotic constraints which greatly reduce the yield. Over the last ten years, cashew yield has decreased [9]. In most of producing countries in Africa, the yield varies between 3 kg and 67 kg / tree [5] compared to 10 to 15 kg/tree in other countries of the world such as India, Vietnam, Brazil and Tanzania, the yield varied between 10 to 15 kg/tree [5]. The low productivity of the cashew tree in most producing countries reduces the income of producers and jeopardizes the investments made during the establishment and monitoring of cashew plantations [10]. This low yield does not benefit farmers who lose their investments. However, the low productivity of the cashew tree are related to several factors including poor soil fertility, unsuitable agro-ecological conditions, poor technical itineraryroutes, poor quality of plant material, inadequate spacing between plants, poor plantations maintenance and diseases and pest attacks [2,11]. Pest attacks due to insect pests and especially diseases are the most damaging ones. Thus, this review aims at taking stock of the main pests and diseases related to cashew nut production and their management measures in Africa. 2. Cashew production conditions and needs: The establishment of a cashew plantation requires some conditions related to the agro ecological and environment. The cashew tree preferably grows at an altitudes below 1000 mm, in areas with a hot tropical climate, with alternating dry and wet seasons [12]. It tolerate periods of heat and drought. Forty degree (40 ° C) is ideal, but not above 45 ° C). Temperatures 126 JCBPS; Section B; November 2020 –January 2021, Vol. 11, No. 1; 125-136. [DOI:10.24214/jcbps.B.11.1.12536.] Management… Rachidatou Sikirou et al. that promote good plant growth are between 20 and 36 °C. The cashew tree is sensitive to intense cold and large temperature variations [10]. Its needs a rainfall of between 600 and 1500 mm per year in a single season of 4 to 6 months. It needs a dry period of 5 to 7 months favouring good fruiting and best conservation of the cashew nut. Depending on the ecological zone, the influence of rainfall is perceptible on cashew yield [13,14]. The cashew tree adapts to various types of soil. It does not require a rich soil but prefers light, sandy, deep, well-drained soils with 25% clay [15]. Soil with pH values vary between 4.5 and 6.5 is favorable for cashew plant [16]. 2.1. Importance of cashew 2.1.1. The value chain of the cashew tree: Cashew is a useful plant. All its parts including wood, fruit, almond, or its shell liquid (Cashew Nut Shell Liquid) (CNSL) are exploitable. The use are many depending on the part of the plant. 2.1.2. Agri-food use: The cashew nut almond, a viable additional protein resource and microelement, is mainly consumed after processing in the form of "snack" or "appetizer" in the same way as peanuts [17,18]. It can be eaten alone, salted, or in assortment with other dried fruits [10]. It is traditionally consumed in this way in Europe and the United States which are the primary selling sources of cashew. It is also add to several products from chocolate or confectionery industries (chocolate candies, honey, etc.). For biscuits, pastry and yoghurt preparation, cashew nuts can be used as powder, granular or entire form. They can also be transformed into butter [10]. The fatty acids contained in cashew nut are of great dietary importance for the control of bad cholesterol [3]. In addition to the nut, cashew apple is edible. It has great antiscorbutic properties due to its vitamin C content which is about 5 times higher than that of an orange [17,19]. Sweet and fragrant juice, vinegar, wine or alcohol come from cashew apple processing [10,13]. The cashew nut alcohol is very appreciated in Brazil and in West African countries, especially in Guinea Bissau where it is consumed as cashew wine [10]. 2.1.3. Industrial use: Cashew Nut Shell Liquid is used in the manufacture of brakes and clutch‟s friction elements. This substance is also used as an insulating and waterproof material in aviation or as an input for paints, varnishes and plastics industry. In Asia, it is used for the manufacture of indelible ink [10,13,20], 2014). Cashew balm is also used as a bio-insecticide [20] against crop pests such as caterpillars. (Helicoverpa armigera, Earias spp., Diparopsis watersi, Spodoptera littoralis, Pectinophora gossypiella, Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in cotton [21], coleopteran (Collosobruchus maculatus) in cowpea stock [22]. Cashew nut oil is also obtained from cashew nut which is mainly used in pharmacology and cosmetics [19]. 2.1.4. Cosmetic use: Cashew oil, obtained by pressing cashew nuts, is combined with other components for the manufacture of cosmetic products. Cashew oil has a high content in vitamins E and unsaturated fatty acids which particularly protect the skin against its drying up. It can be used in the composition of hands balms, massage oils, sun care and lips or the hair treatment as well [10]. 2.2. Main insect pests of cashew nuts Numerous insect pests are harmful to cashew production. Insect pests are common to many cashew producing areas. They including stem bores Mecocorynus loripes (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (Figure 1a) and Apate terebrans (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) (Figure 1b) and sap-sucking bugs such as Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) (Figure 1c), Pseudotherapus wayi Brown (Hemiptera: Coreidae) (Figure 1d), Anoplocnemis curvipes (Hemiptera: Coreidae) (Figure 1e) and Pseudococcus longispinus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (Figure 1f). 127 JCBPS; Section B; November 2020 –January 2021, Vol.