Studies on different species of plant parasitic nematodes attacking vegetable crops grown in  Afikpo North L.G.A. Nigeria

Abstract

Studies on the prevalence of different species of plant parasitic nematodes attacking vegetable crops grown in Afikpo North L.G.A., Ebonyi State, Nigeria was carried out from October 2011 to September, 2012.  A total of 200 soil, roots, stems and leaf samples were collected from different farm sites in Afikpo North L.G.A., including; Amasiri, Akpoha, Enohia, Afikpo town, Unwana, Ndibe, Ibii Ozizza and Kpogirikpo. Nematodes were extracted and isolated from 100g soil samples, using a simple bucket sieving method with the aid of a strainer. This was done in order to recover actively migrating nematodes attacking vegetable crops. A total of seven different species of nematodes were recovered during the study. These include; endoparatic and ecto parasitic nematodes. There were four endo parasitic nematodes recovered, including; Meloidogyne incognita with the highest prevalence of 45 (37.50%), M. hapla 32 (26.67%), Pratylenchus spp. (migratory) 25 (20.83%) and Heterodera spp. 18(15.00%). The other three species of nematodes recovered were ectoparasitic nematodes, including; Xiphinema spp., with the highest prevalence of 20(41.67%) which is a migratory nematode; Dolichorus spp. (also migratory) 16(33.3%) and Trichodrous spp. 12(25.00%). However, okra, cucumber, garden eggs, alfalfa, tomatoes, pepper, fluted pumpkin, etc where some vegetable crops attacked by nematodes from the study area.

Key words: Nematodes, vegetables, Meloidogyne incognita, Trichodorous species, Heterodera species ,endoparasitic, ectoparasitic