WEED AND CROP HOSTS OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE, MELOIDOGYNE JAVANICA (TREUB, 1885) CHITWOOD, 1949 IN NORTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Five weed species, including Ageratum conyzoides, Eclipta alba, Ipomea aquatica, Polygonum senegalense and Sesbania leptocarpa, were hosts of Meloidogyne javanica in the fadama farmlands along Rima river in Sokoto. All the vegetable crops grown in the local environment were infected by the nematode. Wheat was attacked both in the field and under screen house conditions. Rice, millet and sorghum were not attacked by the nematode. Under screen house conditions cowpea cultivar Ife Brown, Kano 1996, TVX 3236 and IAR 335 were attacked by M. javanica. All the 4 cultivars had significant reduction in number of nodules. Symptoms of infection include yellowing of leaves and heavy gallings of the roots.