Assessment of damage caused by podagrica decolorata according to the stages of okra (abelmoschus esculentus) development in the dry season and rainy season in west-Cote d’Ivoire

Okra is a vegetable renowned for its nutritional properties. It helps improve the standard of living of rural populations in Côte d'Ivoire. However, okra cultivation faces a major challenge in the form of the pest Podagrica decolorata. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the damage caused by P. decolorata in both the dry and rainy seasons over two consecutive years with a view to proposing effective control strategies at specific times. Sampling was carried out on 32 central plants, eliminating the plants at the edges. The study revealed that P. decolorata attacks all parts of the okra plant, with a preference for the leaves, with an attack rate of up to 100% at the flowering-fruiting stage. The extent of damage to the leaves revealed that in the dry season, the leaves are heavily attacked by P. decolorata at the pre-flowering and flower bud stages. The results of this study offer a good perspective in the control of this pest and thus improve okra production in Côte d'Ivoire.