Plant parasitic nematodes associated with selected agricultural soils in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes have caused huge yield loss on all agricultural crops. Knowledge of the type and quantity of these pathogens in soils is an indication of the risk of disease development in the crops grown on the soils. This study was carried out to determine the plant parasitic nematode composition of selected agricultural soils in Kwara State, Nigeria. Three sample locations from each of the forest and savannah agro-ecological zones of the state were selected for the study. Soil samples were taken from the rhizosphere of five crops commonly grown in each of the six sample locations (Celosia sp. Cowpea, Maize, Soybean and Teak) using soil auger. Nematodes were extracted using the modified Bearmann technique and the nematodes were identified using standard identification key. The identity of the nematodes was confirmed at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. A total of six nematode genera namely, Meloidogyne sp., Helicotylenchus sp., Scutellonema sp., Pratylenchus sp., Rotylenchus sp., and Tylenchus sp. were isolated with Meloidogyne sp. having the highest frequency of occurrence in most of the sampled locations and crops. The implication of nematodes in agricultural soils is discussed.