Incidence of Root-knot Nematodes in Some Selected Vegetable Crops in Nukkai Irrigation Field Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria

A study to determine the incidence of root-knot nematode (Melodogyne spp) in some selected vegetables was conducted in Nukkai Irrigation Field of Jalingo, Nigeria. Samples of Okra (Hibiscus esculentus), Spinach (Amaranthus spp) and Sorrel (Hisbiscus sabdariffa) were collected at 2-weeks old and at maturity (flowering stage). Their roots were cut off and nematodes (Melodogyne spp) were extracted using the Baermann method and identified using the female perineal pattern manual. The results showed that Melodogyne spp are incident in the study area as 248 (34.44%) stands out of the 720 stands studied were found to be infested by root-knot nematode. The results also showed that two Melodogyne spp, M. javanica and M. incognita were discovered, and had a total number of 535 individuals. M. javanica (345) were predominantly higher than M. incognita (190). In all stages of sampling, Hibiscus esculentus proved to be more susceptible to infestion, followed by Amarantus spp while the least infested was Hibiscus sabdariffa and M. javanica appeared to be more abundant than M. incognita in the study area.