Abstract

Mony Ruth, Dibong Siegfried Didier, Ondoua Joseph Marie, Engone Obiang Nestor Laurier, Boussim Issiaka Joseph, Amougou Akoa and Bilong Bilong

The follow up of the development of flowers of Phragmanthera capitata during four cycles of flowering plants had an objective to explain the low number of bays produced by this species observed in the agroecosystems of Douala. Collection of ants during the mornings were carried out in April, May and June 2009 on three floral knots belonging to a branch of P. capitata which parasites Citrus maxima, Psidium guajava and Theobroma cacao. The fructification in P. capitata was low and inversely proportional to the number of floral buds and full grown flowers. According to the ant species, labourers can cause lesions on underground and aerial parts of Loranthaceae (buds, leaves, flowers and fruits) so as to exploit extra floral nectarines, directly. Hence, most of the flowers do not reach maturity. Therefore fruit productions are limited. The magnitude of loss can vary from simple lesions to the cutting of soft part of the plant, leading to the death of the parasitized host plant.