Item Details

Title: NEMATODE DISTRIBUTION AND DAMAGE TO YAM IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN UGANDA

Date Published: 2007
Author/s: J. MUDIOPE, P.R. SPEIJER, D. COYNE, R.N. MASLEN and E. ADIPALA
Data publication:
Funding Agency :
Copyright/patents/trade marks: African Crop Science Society
Journal Publisher: African Crop Science Journal
Affiliation: 1
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, P. O. Box 7878,
Kampala, Uganda *Correspondence address: c/o Lambourn & C., Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road,
Croyodon CR9 3EE, UK. 2
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB,
United Kingdom 3
Department of Crop Science, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Keywords: Dioscorea, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, tuber cracking

Abstract:

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are food crops of growing significance in sub Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, nematodes
are major pests to their production. A study was undertaken in major yam growing areas of Uganda to
investigate the association of plant parasitic nematodes with damage symptoms. Nematodes were assessed from
tubers, roots and surrounding soil for seven cultivars belonging to Dioscorea alata, D. bulbisiana, D. burkilliana
and D. cayenensis at harvest. Pratylenchus sudanensis was found in the greatest density and was followed by
Meloidogyne spp. Higher densities of both nematodes were observed in the tubers rather than roots. Although
symptoms of cracking and galling were relatively low, P. sudanensis incidence was strongly associated with
cracking and Meloidogyne spp. with galling. Pratylenchus sudanensis and Meloidogyne spp. incidence their
associated damage were, however, negatively correlated, suggesting inter-species competition. Principal components analysis of data suggested that differences in susceptibility to P. sudanensis occur between yam cultivars
and species.