Comparative Efficacy of Powders and Water Extracts of Chromolaena Odorata (L) and Annona Senegalensis (Pers) in Management of Root-Knot Disease of Pepper

Abstract

Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is an important pest of pepper. Various control measures have been employed in managing root-knot disease of pepper. The problems arising from chemical control have resulted in a search for plant toxicants for nematode control. This study investigated the performance of powders and water extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Annona senegalensis in the management of Meloidogyne incognita infection on pepper.Pepper cultivar Ex-Sam-St was raised in the nursery and transplanted into polypots and fields, inoculated with 5000 M. incognita eggs extracted with the sodium hypochlorite method. After inoculation, dry powders at 80 kg/ha, water extracts at 100,000 mg/kg, carbofuran 3G at 3 kg ai/ha and water were applied in pot and field experiments. Gallings on roots rated, final nematode population and reproductive factor were calculated. The data were log-transformed, analyzed with ANOVA, means separated with LSD at 5% probability level.Annona senegalensis leaf powder and its water extract were the most outstanding in performance next to carbofuran in reducing final nematode population, reproductive factor and galling index. Dry powders were more effective than water extracts in reducing the nematode infection. These botanicals can be used as alternatives to synthetic nematicides in the management of the nematode.

Keywords: Botanicals, Final nematode population, Galling Index, Inoculation, Reproductive Factor, Root damage.