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Ecological Niche Partitioning of Sclerotium rolfsii and Ralstonia solanacearum in Tomato Agroecosystems in Côte d’Ivoire
Abstract
A cross-sectional survey was conducted across 150 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plots in five agroecological zones in Côte d’Ivoire to test the hypothesis of ecological niche partitioning between Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. and Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith). Co-occurrence analysis using a Chi-square test revealed statistical independence between the pathogens (Odds Ratio = 1.18; p = 0.834), rejecting the synergy hypothesis. The observed spatial segregation is consistent with environmental filtering as a structuring process. R. solanacearum formed an endemic hotspot in the humid coastal zone, significantly associated with acidic soils (Spearman’s ρ = −0.28; p < 0.001) and hydromorphic lowlands. Conversely, S. rolfsii exhibited a greater disease intensity/severity (DSI) in savanna zones, showing a significant positive correlation with organic matter (ρ = + 0.23; p < 0.01). These results suggest that this soilborne pathogen community is associated with divergent ecological optima rather than direct competition. This advocates for spatially differentiated management based on local edaphic risk factors, paving the way for precision crop protection in tropical agroecosystems.
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References
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DOI: 10.33687/phytopath.015.01.6102
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