STUDIES ON SURVEY OF AFRICAN MISTLETOE IN BIRNIN KEBBI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KEBBI STATE

The study on Survey of African mistletoe was conducted in Birnin kebbi from three (3) different localities namely A, B and C. One thousand four hundred and eighty two (1482) host trees were randomly identified and examined accordingly using standard methods. The results revealed that Acacia nilotica had the highest percentage with 41 (20.8%) while the lowest percentage of occurrence was identified in Ziziphus mauritiana 10 (5.1%) from location A, Azadirachta indica had the highest occurrence with 34 (30.6%) and its lowest occurrence on Gmelina arborea with 3 (2.7%) from location B, while in location C, Acacia nilotica had the highest occurrence with 39 (21.9%) and its lowest occurrence on Parkia biglobosa with 11 (6.2%). Overall, 9 species of trees had the parasite on them with different levels of infestation among the species. Characteristics features of host such as host size, canopy spread and height that influence mistletoes and their host relationship have no influence on mistletoes-host interaction and other factors such as compatibility, interaction with birds and seedling establishment may be more important in determining mistletoes host interaction. Researchers should lay emphasis on other factors such as disseminators (birds) relationship with host tree, tree bark roughness and mistletoes seed establishment on the host.