Survey of Nematode-Destroying Fungi from Selected Vegetable-Growing Areas in Kenya

Authors

  • P M Wachira Author
  • J N Muindi Author
  • S A Okoth Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24154/jhs.v10i1.156

Keywords:

Artabotrys, Biological Control, Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes cause severe damage to a wide range of economic crops, causing upto 5% yield losses globally. In Kenya, vegetables are affected, among other pests, by parasitic nematodes, causing upto 80% loss in yield. Nematode control is very difficult and relies heavily on use of chemical nematicides. Use of these chemical nematicides leads to biological magnification, and elimination of natural enemies of other pathogens, thus creating a need for greater application of pesticides, increased production costs, and development of insecticide-resistance. These factors have led to a growing interest in search for alternate management strategies. The objective of this study was, therefore, to document nematode-destroying fungi in selected, major vegetable-growing areas in Kenya as a step towards developing a self-sustaining system for management of plant-parasitic nematodes. Soil samples were collected from five vegetable-production zones, viz., Kinare, Kabete, Athi-river, Machakos and Kibwezi, and transported to the laboratory for extraction of nematode-destroying fungi. The soil-sprinkle technique described by Jaffee et al (1996) was used for isolating the nematode-destroying fungi from soil, while, their identification was done using identification keys described by Soto Barrientos et al (2001). From this study, a total of 171 fungal isolates were identified as nematodedestroying. The highest population was recorded in Kabete, at 33.9% of the total, followed by Machakos, Kibwezi, Athi-river, with the least in Kinare, at 24.6, 22.2, 11.7 and 7.6% of the total population, in that order. Arthrobotrys was the most frequent genus, with mean occurrence of 7.3, followed by Monacrosporium with 6 and Stylophage with 5.2. A. dactyloides was significantly (P=0.002) affected by the agro-ecological zone, with the highest occurrence recorded in Kabete, and the least in Athi-river. Kibwezi recorded highest diversity index, with a mean of 1.017, while, Athi-river recorded the least, with a mean of 0.333. Kibwezi had the highest species richness, recording a mean of 3.4, while, the least mean of 1.6 was recorded in Athi-river. Mean species richness of 2.2 was recorded for both Kabete and Machakos, and 1.8 for Kinare. From the three genera recorded, Arthrobotrys was more effective at trapping nematodes compared to Monocrosporium and Stylopage. The genus Arthrobotrys had the highest number of trapped nematodes, with a total population of 57, followed by Monacrosporium, the least being Stylopage, with 45 and 36, respectively, in a period of 104 hours. From the study, it is evident that agricultural practices affect occurrence and diversity of nematodedestroying fungi, and, Arthrobotrys can be used as a bio-control agent for managing plant-parasitic nematodes.

References

Akhtar, M. and Malik, Y. 2000. Roles of organic soil amendments and soil organisms in the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes: A review. Bioresource Tech., 74:35-47

Birgit, H., Hans, B.J. and Anders, Y. 2002. Nematophagous Fungi. Encyclopedia life sci., 101.1038/npg.els.0004293.nematodes. Revista de biologia tropical. ISSN 0034-7744

Bridge, J. 1996. Nematode management in sustainable and subsistence agriculture. Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Temperate Agriculture. CABI International, Wallingford, UK., pp. 203-209

Christina, P., Stefan, O. and Hans, J. 1999. Growth of Arthrobotrys superba from a birchwood resource base into soil determined by radioactive tracing. Thorvaldsensvej, 40:DK-1871

Dobson, H.M., Matthews, G.A., Olembo, S., Baleguel, P. and Wiles, T.L. 2004. Application challenges for small- scale African farmers: a training initiative in Cameroon. International Advances in Pesticide Application. Aspects App. Biolo., 71:385–392

Edmeades, D.C. 2003. The long-term effects of manures and fertilizers on soil productivity and quality: a review Nutrient Cycling in Agro. ecosystems, 66:165–180

Elshafie, A.E., Al-Mueini, R., Al- Bahry, Akindi, A., Mohmoud, I. and Al- Rawahi, S. 2006. Diversity and trapping efficiency of nematophagous fungi from Oman. Phytpath., Mediterrenian, 45:266-270

Farrell, F.C., Jaffee, B.A. and Strong, D.R. 2006. The nematode trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora in soil of the Bodega marine reserve: distribution and dependence on nematode-parasitized moth larvae. Soil Biol. Biochem., 38:1422-1429

Haugen, L.M. and Smith, S.E. 1992. The effect of high temperature and fallow period on infection of mung bean and cashew roots by the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus: Plant and Soil, 145:71-80

Hayward, A.C. 1991. Biology and epidemiology of bacterial wilt caused by Pseudomonas solanacearum. Ann.Rev. Phytopath., 29:65-87

Hein, G.L. 2007. Use of predators to control insect’s pests in potato. University of Nebraska Lincoln intraradices, Biomedical and Life Sci. Pl. Soil Volume, 145:71-80

Jaffee, B.A. Srong, D.R. and Milton, A.E. 1996. Nematode- trapping fungi of natural shrubland: Tests for food chain involvement. Mycologia, 88:554-564

Jansson, H.B. Persson, C. and Odeslus, R. 2000. Growth and capture activities of nematode destroying fungi in soil visualized by low temperature scanning electron microscopy. Mycologia, 92:10-15

Kaskavalci, G. 2007. Effect of soil solarization and organic amendment treatments for controlling Meloidogyne incognita in tomato cultivars in Western Anatolia. Turkish Agril. Forum, 31:159-167

Keren-Zur, M., Antonov, J., Bercovitz, A., Feldman, A., Keram, G. and Rebhum, N. 2000. Baccillus firmus formulation for the safe control of root knot nematodes. The BCPC Conference. Pests and Disease, Brighton, UK, pp. 307-311

Kindt, R. and Coe, R. 2005. Tree diversity analysis: A manual and software for common statistical methods for ecological and biodiversity studies. Nairobi, World Agro-forestry Center (ICRAF), Kenya

Masoomeh, S.G., Mehdi, R.A., Sharokh, R.B., Ali, E.R. and Majid, E. 2004. Screening of soil and sheep faecal samples for predacious fungi: Isolation and characterization of the nematode – trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. Iranian Biomedical., 8:135-142

Mutsotso, B.M. Muya, E. and Chirchir, J. 2005. The socio- economic aspects of sustainable conservation and management of below-ground biodiversity (BGBD) in Embu and Taita bench-mark sites, Kenya. Global Conference on Conservation and Management of Below Ground Biodiversity in Manaus, Brazil, 11-17 April 2015

Nchore, S.B., Waceke, J.W. and Kariuki, G.M. 2010. Incidence and prevalence of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne species in selected indigenous leafy vegetables in Kisii and Trans-Mara Counties of Kenya. In: Transforming Agriculture for improved livelihoods through Agricultural Product Value Chains. 12th KARI Biennial Scientific Conference, November 8- 12, 2010, Nairobi, Kenya. KARI,pp. 675-681

Niu, X.M. and Zhang, K.Q. 2011. Arthrobotrys oligospora: a model organism for understanding the interaction between fungi and nematodes. Mycology: An Int’lJ. Fungal Biol., 2:59-78

Nordbring-Hertz, B. Jansson, H.B. and Tunlid, A. 2002. Nematophagous fungi: Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Macmillan Publishers Ltd., London, UK

Pinkerton, J.N., Ivors, K.L., Miller, M.L. and Moore, L.W. 2000. Effect of solarization and cover crops on populations of selected soil-borne plant pathogens in Western Oregon. Pl Dise., 84:952-960

Rajeswari, S. and Sivakumar, C. 1999. Occurrence of nematophagous fungi (Hyphhomycetes) and their predacious ability in Tamil Nadu. J. Biol. Control, 13:107-110

Republic of Kenya. TaitaTaveta District Development Plan – 2002-2006. Government Printer. Nairobi, Kenya

Rodrigues, M.L., Castro, A.A., Oliveira, C.R., Anjos, D., Bittencourt, V. and Aranjo, J. 2001. Trapping capabilities of Arthrobotry ssp. and Monacrosporium thaumasium on Cyathostoma, larvae. Veterinary Parasitology, 10:51–54

Sanyal, P.K. 2000. Screening for Indian isolates of predacious fungi for use in biological control against nematode parasites of ruminants. Vet. Res. Comm., 24:55-62

Sobita, S. and Anamika, A. 2011. Management of root knot disease in rice caused by Meloidogyne graminicola through nematophagous fungi. J. Agril. Sci., 3:122-127

Soto Barrientos, N., de Oliveira, J., Vega- Obando, R., Montero – Caballero, D., Vargas, B., Hernandez-Gamboa, J. and Orozco-Solano, C. (2011). In-vitro predatory activity of nematophagous fungi from Costa Rica with potential use for controlling sheep and goat p a r a s i t i c nematodes. Rev. Biol. Trop., 59:37-52

Wachira, P.M and Okoth, S.A. 2009. Use of nematode- destroying fungi as indicators of land disturbance in TaitaTaveta, Kenya. Trop Subtrop Agroecosystems, 11:313-321

Wachira, P.M., Kimenju, J.W., Okoth, S., Mibey, R.K. and Mungatu, J. 2008. Effect of land-use on occurrence and diversity of nematode-destroying fungi in TaitaTaveta, Kenya. Asian J. Pl. Sci., 7:447-453

Downloads

Published

30-06-2015

Issue

Section

Original Research Papers

How to Cite

Wachira, P. M., Muindi, J. N., & Okoth, S. A. (2015). Survey of Nematode-Destroying Fungi from Selected Vegetable-Growing Areas in Kenya. Journal of Horticultural Sciences, 10(1), 64-69. https://doi.org/10.24154/jhs.v10i1.156

Similar Articles

21-30 of 375

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.