Allelopathic potential of plant extracts against Scutellonema bradys

Abstract

Experiments were carried out in the laboratory of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, UK, to investigate the toxicity of some plant materials against S.bradys. Laboratory investigations confirmed extracts of neem, cocoyam, ginger and maize to be effective against the yam nematode and as contact nematicides since their extracts killed the nematodes within two weeks. However, the percentage mortality was directly correlated with concentrations of the extracts and exposure time. Phytochemical screening of dried neem fruit, maize root, ginger root, and cocoyam corm powder for their chemical composition revealed the presence of oils, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids which may be responsible for the non-host status.