Survey and Distribution of Plant Parasitic Nematodes Inhabiting Farmlands around Kware Lake

Abstract

A survey was conducted on nematodes associated with soils of farmlands around Kware Lake, Kware local government area of Sokoto State. The aim this research is to determine the species composition and distribution of nematodes in farmlands around Kware Lake. Sampling was carried out from July to September, 2016. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 0-15 m. Centrifugation technique was used for the extraction of nematodes and viewed under the microscope. Results indicates that seven species were detected whose richness varied with respect to sites. The nematodes detected were Xiphinema spp., Heterodera spp., Trichodorus spp., Meloidogyne spp., Rotylenchus spp., Longidorus spp. and Pratylenchus spp. The most abundant nematodes isolated were Meloidogyne spp. (29.63%) while Pratylenchus spp. were found to be least abundant (2.22%). This is because Meloidogyne was very widely distributed and affect a wide variety of crops while Pratylenchus was a migratory endoparasite and can be ascertain by its high population in the root. There was no significant difference on nematode species occurrence between the three sampling sites at p<0.05. The result showed there was wide diversity of nematodes inhabiting the study area with diversity index of 1.77. The presence of plant parasitic nematodes in the soils of farmlands around Kware Lake highlights need for prevention and control of nematode species, so as to reduce the risk of losses to agricultural yield.