Abstract:
Watermelon production in
Kwara State, Nigeria, is affected by rootknot
nematode (RKN), as all varieties of the
crop are susceptible. The aim of this study
was to identify readily available and
environmentally safe nematicides for the
management of RKN. The field was located
at the Teaching and Research Farm of the
University of Ilorin and set out in a
randomised complete block design, with four
replications. Aqueous and powdered extracts
of Chromolaena odorata (L) King and
Robinson and Ficus mucuso Welw. ex
Ficalho were applied alone and in
combination. There were seven total
treatments: C. odorata aqueous, F. mucuso
aqueous, C. odorata powder, F. mucuso
powder, C. odorata and F. mucuso aqueous,
C. odorata and F. mucuso powder, and the
control. Data were collected on growth, yield
and nematode populations. All data collected
were subjected to analysis of variance, and
treatments were compared using Duncan’s
multiple range test at a 5% level of
significance. The essential oil of each
botanical was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The
vine length (185.61) and yield (2401.05) of
plants treated with botanicals were
significantly higher than those of the control
at P<0.005. The nematode population was
also significantly lower in plants treated with
botanicals than in the control (318.30 and
230.00, first and second year, respectively)
at P<0.005. Among the treatments, the
combination of C. odorata and F. mucuso
powders was the most effective, with higher
growth and yield performance. The
experiment showed that aqueous and
powdered extracts of C. odorata and F.
mucuso were effective in managing RKN in
the field.
