The existence and distribution of cassava bacterial blight in East Africa

Cassava bacterial blight is one of the major bacterial diseases in all cassava growing regions in the world. The disease is caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis PV. Manihotis, a gram-negative rod shaped and belongs to the Gammaproteobacteria. The disease is only found in plants belonging to the Manihotis family. A lot of studies and advances have been made on the disease and surveys done to show the presence of the disease in the various parts of the world. Various detection method of the pathogen in the plant materials and in the seed is being worked on as a measure to be able to manage the pathogen through clean materials. The review shows how the disease is spread in Kenya Africa and the world and what are the copping strategies for managing the disease. The disease has been there in Kenya for more than 3 decades but less documentation has been done on the losses that the disease has in the country although damages in other countries like Nigeria and D.R.Congo has been done. Many farmers have not been empowered to know the disease and hoe they can manage the disease a factor that is contributing to the recent increase in the prevalence of the disease in cassva growing areas. Research institutions like IITA and CIAT have done a lot of work in cassava and tried to recommend management of the diseases through various scientists. Though no epidemics for the disease has been reported in Kenya but surveys done show there is an increase in the prevalence of the disease a factor that might lead to future epidemics hence the need for awareness and its occurrence in the country.