Parasitic analysis of the rhizosphere around the roots of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) grown in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Rivers State Nigeria

Abstract

This Research Work on the parasitic analysis of the rhizosphere around the roots of the Bitter leaf (Vernonia Amygdalina) grown in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Rivers State Nigeria, was conducted over six weeks from July to August 2022. A total of 30 soil samples (10 from each location) were collected from three communities; Rumuolumeni, Ogbogoro and Rukpokwu and examined using the modified Baermann's technique for nematode extraction. The results revealed that 24(80%) of the soil samples were infected with PPN’s. Three genera of plant parasitic nematodes were encountered in the experimental setups and recorded as follows: Criconemella spp., 9(30%), Meloidogyne spp., 8(26.7%) with the least occurrence coming from Pratylenchus spp. 7(23.3%). Further analysis showed that samples from all three communities were equally infected 8(80%). However, the number of nematodes recovered from each community varied and are presented in descending order as follows: Rumuolumeni 92, Ogbogoro 67 and Rukpokwu 52. Chi-square statistics show that the relationship between community and infection was non-significant (p>0.05). This result revealed a very high infection rate of plant parasitic nematodes in the three communities in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. It is therefore recommended that adequate efforts should be put in place by the government to provide nematicides to the farmers and make them available to both commercial and peasant farmers and serious awareness of the implications of these plant parasitic nematodes should be carried out regularly in order reduce the burden of plant parasitic nematodes as well as curtail economic losses due to these parasites.