Host suitability studies and reporting of resistance to root-knot nematode (&lt;i&gt;Meloidogyne incognita&lt;/i&gt;)

Cn Imegwu,Ji Mbadianya,Ki Ugwuoke

doi:10.4314/as.v13i1.4

Abstract

Efficient and improved agripreneurship cannot be attained if measures are not put in place to curtail crop losses due to nematode damage. This research was conducted to look at the level of resistance and susceptibility of selected annual crops to guide agripreneurs on what crops to adopt for planting in meloidogyne infested soils and in crop rotation as a method of cultural control. Five crops namely were randomly selected from different crop families and soillorganic manure medium in a 3:1 ratio was used as the planting medium. Nematode inoculum containing about 1000 larvae of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in 30ml of nematode slurry was used to inoculate the test crops with the control left un-inoculated. Data were collected on plant height, fresh root weight, fresh top weight and number of galls/plant. The data were analyzed using genstat and the mean separation done using Fisher’s least significant difference. The results showed that maize was resistant to the inoculum and a good control crop in nematode infested soils while the other four test crops (water-melon, green beans, tomato and green amaranthus) showed varying degrees of susceptibilities from the effect of the inoculum on all the parameters measured. Maize being immune to the inoculum can be used in rotation programmes as a cultural control crop in M. incognita infested plots to reduce the pest’s population and boost the yield of the follow-up crop. Keywords : Infestation, Nematode inoculum, Meloidogyne incognita, Resistance and Susceptibility,

Highlights

Considering the economic importance of root-knot nematodes and there wide host range, this study focuses on the suitability and non-suitability of five test crops to root-knot nematode with the following objectives: 1. To advice crop farmers on what crops to grow in meloidogyne infested soils
Identify resistant crop(s) that can be used in rotation programs with other susceptible crops so as to help in reducing M. incognita in cultivated farmlands
MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in a screen-house in the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria Nsukka between April- June, 2011 to test the level of resistance and susceptibility of different crops to the nematode pests M. incognita

Summary

Introduction

Wilson (1967) indicated that market gardens in Zaria, Northern Nigeria were often heavily infested with root-knot nematodes, mostly M. incognita, making the production of vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots and beans very difficult and discouraging to crop entrepreneurs. 3. Reduce yield losses in susceptible crops through the use of various root-knot nematode control methods in an integrated control approach.

Results

Conclusion