Survey and Identification of Plant Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Pepper in Ethiopia

Abstract

A survey was conducted to determine abundance, frequency of occurrence and population density of plant parasitic nematodes associated with pepper in Ethiopia, during 2020 growing season. A total of one hundred seventeen soil (composite) and root samples were randomly collected from three regions of Ethiopia; i.e. Oromia, SNNP and Amhara. An extraction tray method was used for nematode extraction from these samples. According to the result, six nematode genera; viz. Scutellonema, Meloidogyne, Hoplolaimus, Helicotylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus and Criconema were detected during the survey. The most dominant nematode genera were Meloidogyne and Helicotylenchus followed by Scutellonema, with 38.5%, 25.6%, and 15.3% frequency of Occurrence, respectively. Except Hoplolaimus and Criconema, the other genera were considered as the widely distributed parasites of pepper as they were occurred in all regions. Criconema was the only nematode genus that was detected in Oromia region only. This study encourages more intensive and repeated survey is needed to establish the economic importance and management of pepper nematodes.

Keywords: Nematode, Parasitic, Pepper, Survey

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-6-02

Publication date: April 30^th 2023