Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes significantly hinder food production particularly in the developing world where peasant farmers have little knowledge of these pests. Currently, synthetic pesticides which are highly detrimental to man and the environment are the principal means of nematode control. However, plant products might provide a sustainable control option as nematicidal properties have been identified in many higher plants. An in vitro experiment involving five organic waste extracts; citrus waste, cocoa bean testa, compost, poultry manure and oil palm bunch waste were therefore evaluated for their hatching inhibitory potential to the southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita eggs. Three concentration levels (w/v) that is 4, 8 and 10% of cold aqueous extracts of the organic waste compounds were filtered into 9 cm Petri dishes and infested with 100 eggs each. Hatching of eggs was monitored over a three time period; 24, 48 and 72 h after infestation of the eggs into the cold aqueous extracts of the five candidates in Petri dishes.  The best result was obtained with citrus waste extract in which 5 eggs hatched while 73 eggs hatched in the distilled water (the control treatment) representing a hatching reduction of 93% at the highest time and concentration of 72 h and 10% respectively.

Key words: Hatching, Meloidogyne incognita, organic waste extracts, plant parasitic nematodes.