The abundance of phytonematodes associated with ginger plants in the District of Bogor, Cianjur, and Sukabumi, West Java

Abstract

Phytonematodes are a severe threat that can cause damage to ginger plants, decreasing the quality and quantity of ginger production. Lack of information regarding ginger’s association and abundance of phytonematodes is a challenge in phytonematode management. The research objective was to study the abundance and identify associated phytonematodes in ginger plantations. Samples of rhizomes, roots, and soil were taken from symptomatic ginger plantations in major ginger production areas in Bogor, Cianjur, and Sukabumi, West Java. Phytonematodes from rhizomes and roots samples were extracted using the mist chamber technique and phytonematodes from soil samples were removed with the centrifugal flotation technique. The phytonematodes suspension obtained was observed using a stereo microscope. Identification book The Pictorial Key To Genera of Plant-parasitic Nematodes and related journals for genus and species identification were used to identify nematodes. Each nematode sample received was calculated as a phytonematodes population. The results showed that based on morphological characteristics, seven species of phytonematodes were found in the rhizomes, roots, and soil of ginger plants, namely Aphelenchoides bicaudatus, Hoplolaimus sp., Helichotylenchus sp., Meloidogyne sp., Pratylenchus sp., Radopholus similis, and Rotylenchulus reniformis. R. similis was found to dominate from Bogor’s rhizomes, roots, and soil samples. The highest nematode population was Meloidogyne sp., with at least 821 nematodes per10 g of roots associated with ginger in Sukabumi.