Survey of the endemic phyto-parasitic nematode pests of threat to potato yield in Ogbia, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The absence of pest not excluding phyto-parasitic pathogens can guarantee adequate crop growth performance and ensure food security. Therefore, it is essential that potential pest threatening crop growth performance which can encourage food insecurity be investigated. This study sought to investigate endemic plant parasitic nematode pest of potato, and survey soil and root tuber samples in two farms designated as farm A and B in Emeyal. Soil was collected at the root region of the crop at 0-30 cm depth using a sterilized knife and hand trowel. Ten root tubers from each designated farms A and B where soil was collected were also collected. The samples were properly labelled and transported to the laboratory for the extraction process. The modified sieve plat technique was used for nematode extraction and plant parasitic nematodes were identified to genera level using nematode identification key. The results revealed a total of 289 plant parasitic nematodes in this study with 175 (60.6%) occurring in farm A and farm B recording 114 (39.4%) respectively. Plant parasitic nematodes were reported in both soil and root tubers of the potato crop. The most prevalent species reported in this study was Globodera species (24.2 %) closely followed by Meloidogyne species (18.3 %). The study revealed that plant parasitic nematodes are prevalent in Emeyal and potatoes are vulnerable to infections of plant parasitic nematodes. Therefore, effort to prevent and manage the parasites can mean sustainable potato production and improve food supply in the area. Farmers should adopt the practice of using animal dung as a form of organic fertilizers to boost crop immunity over damages of plants parasitic nematodes and improve crop performance.