Author(s): Edagbo DE, Oyetunji OJ, Ighere DA and Aladejimokun AO

Abstract: Mistletoe infests susceptible host plants, cohabits and survives on such hosts deriving nourishment and support. The sustenance and survival of the parasitic plant on its hosts is achieved at the cost of shared resources resulting in suboptimum production in physiological outputs which include features like leaf size and weight and also the quantity and quality of fruits realized among others. The African Mistletoe, Tapinanthus bangwensis on Citrus sinensis and Irvingia gabonensis hosts were studied for the leaves and fruits product for which the infested and uninfested hosts were investigated. Measurements for leaf size revealed that the uninfested hosts had larger leaf sizes (Citrus 77.43; Irvingia 51.77cm2) and weight (Citrus 2.17; Irvingia 0.76 g) including higher number of fruits (Citrus 238; Irvingia 87) relative to the infested (Citrus 67.75, 1.69, 124; Irvingia 47.52 cm2, 0.70 g, 69). The presence and growth of mistletoe on the hosts therefore depletes resources which culminate in reduced physiological outputs in the infested hosts.

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