Mistletoe Species Richness and Rate of Infestation on the Tree Species in the Campus of Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

Abstract

Mistletoe species richness and their rate of trees infestation in the campus of Adamawa State University (ADSU), Mubi have not been documented. This study, therefore, was focused on the assessment of mistletoe species parasitic on trees in the campus of ADSU, Mubi, Nigeria. It also determined the level at which trees were infected by mistletoe in the study area. The fresh leaves, stems and flowers or fruits of mistletoes from every tree species alongside that of the  host trees within the campus of ADSU, Mubi were collected. Every tree species infected and not infected by mistletoe were marked with red and white paint respectively and their total number noted. The samples of the mistletoes collected and those of the tree species, both infected and uninfected in the study area were taken to a plant taxonomist for identification. The study revealed that, three different species of mistletoes all from the genus Tapinanthus, namely: Tapinanthus oleifolius, Tapinanthus globiferus and Tapinanthus dodoneifolius were parasitic on different trees in the campus with T. oleifolius being the predominant species. Thirty (30) different tree species from sixteen (16) families were identified in the study area among which eight (8), namely: Terminalia mantally, Solanum linneanum, Khaya senegalensis, Azadirachta indica, Gmelina arborea, Albizia lebbeck, Senna siamea and Araucaria columnaris were infected with mistletoe. Therefore, eight (8) out of the 30 different tree species within the campus of ADSU, Mubi were infected with three different mistletoe species which include: T. oleifolius, T. globiferus and T. dodoneifolius with S. linneanum having the highest rate of infestation and T. oleifolius the most predominant mistletoe species.