New Host Range for Parasitic Plants in Bonga and Yayu Natural Forests in Ethiopia

Abstract

Parasitic plants are widely distributed across all continents except Antarctica. The competition for food nutrients and water by these plants has harmful effect on the physiological activities of the host plant. A survey on the occurrence of parasitic plants was conducted in 2011 in and around Bonga and Yayu natural forests of southwestern Ethiopia. This study was aimed at determining the distribution of parasitic plants on economically and ecologically important trees species in the two forests. Foui" species of parasitic plants were recorded associated with ten host plants. Higher rate infection was observed in the fragmented forests located around homesteads and margin of the forests than in dense forests. Further geographical variation and percent of infection were evident
between the forests and host plants. For the first time, Coffea arabica was observed to be infected by Viscum congolense. This infection imparted negative effects on coffee bean production in Bonga forest. Similar infections were also recorded in several coffee shade trees. Therefore, future research works need to address forest situated in the lower administrative levels and analyze the impacts of parasitic plant in economically important tree species