Evaluation of Some Plant Extracts Used in the Control of Root-knot Nematode (meloidogyne Javanica) in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

This paper is a laboratory based study in which the Evaluation of some Plant Extracts used in the Control of rootknot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) was conducted. The study focused on determining the phytochemical composition of the plant extracts and examine their effect on egg hatchability and juvenile (J2) mortality of M. javanica in the laboratory. Each of the experiments egg hatchability and juvenile mortality consisted of thirteen treatments replicated three (3) times and was laid in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Egg hatchability and Juvenile mortality tests were conducted on about 1000 eggs and 1000 second stage juveniles. The results showed that all plant extracts inhibits egg hatching and caused juvenile mortality in varying forms when compared to the control. However, sweet orange peelings extract gave the best results as least number of eggs hatched (10%) and highest number of juvenile mortality (90%) followed by pigweed extract 15 number of egg hatched and 77.5 While Pigweed extract recorded 30 number of egg hatched and 52.6 juvenile mortality. The untreated control recorded the highest number of egg hatched 85 and zero (0%) juvenile mortality respectively. From this study, sweet orange peeling extract was found to be one of the most effective plant extracts in inhibiting egg hatch and causing juvenile mortality of M. javanica appreciable results were also obtained from pigweed and rice husk extracts when compared with untreated control. In conclusion plant extracts from rice husk, sweet orange peelings and pigweed have the potentials for use as nematicides which could possibly replace the costly and hazardous synthetic nematicides in the near future. Therefore, it is recommended that there is need to try these plant extracts in screen house and in the field (under natural condition) to further ascertain their efficacy.