Paper Details

Management of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) on cowpea (Vigna  unguiculata L. Walp.)  with oil cakes

Frederick Kankam, Elias Nortaa Kunedeb Sowley, Isaac Nkansah Dankwa

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.12.413-419

Int. J. Biosci. 5(12), 413-419. December, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

Nematodes pose a threat to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) production. Since management of phytopathogens by plant extracts are safer than agrochemicals, the efficacy of oil cakes of Indian almond (Terminalia catappa), Palm kernel (Elaes guineensis) and Shea nut (Vitelleria paradoxa) against root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) was tested in a Completely Randomised Design with four replications. Cowpea plants were inoculated with 1000 root-knot-nematode eggs/100g of soil two weeks after sowing before measuring plant height, number of leaves, canopy spread, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, root galling and root-knot nematode population. Indian almond cake-treated plants had a significantly lower (P<0.05) root-knot nematode population and infection index (root gall) and a significantly higher (P<0.05) yield than the other treatments and the control. Since Indian almond cake was the most effective in reducing galling and nematode population, farmers can use it as a soil amendment.