PARASITIC NEMATODESOFCASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA CRANTZ) INFARMLANDS ATAMOWELLE-AMANSAE,SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes are among important Pest threatening cassava production in Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence of plant parasitic nematodes in cassava farmlands at Amowelle Amansea, Anambra State Southeast Nigeria. Ten cassava farmlands were randomly selected from the community for study. From each farmland, five cassava tubers and associated soils were systematically sampled; and nematode extraction was done with modified Baermann technique. Species of nematodes encountered in soils were Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema and Gracillacus while those from tubers were Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema and Gracillacus. Of the 10 farmlands sampled, 8 farms (80%) harboured nematodes in soil while 4 farms (40%) had their cassava tubers infected with nematodes. Among plant parasitic nematodes encountered in soils, the prevalence of Scutellonema species was 34%, followed by Meloidogyne spp. (21%), Pratylenchus spp. (17%), and Gracillacus spp. (13%). In cassava tubers, the prevalence was Scutellonema spp. (38%), Meloidogyne spp. (25%), Helicotylenchus spp. (25%), and Gracillacus spp. (13%). With the exception of Helicotylenchus species, which was not extracted from the soil, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between prevalence of parasitic nematodes in soils and tubers from the farmlands studied. Presence of these plant nematodes in Amowelle-Amansea is a potential threat to cassava production in the area. This paper recommends that integrated control of plant parasitic nematodes is necessary to ensure profitable cassava production, in terms of quality and quantity ,in the area of study and elsewhere in the country.

Keywords

• Nematodes
• Meloidogyne
• Pratylenchus
• Helicotylenchus
• Scutellonema
• Gracillacus species