Browsing by Author "Lutuf, H."
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Item Identification Of Nematodes And Morphological Characterization Of Meloidogyne Incognita Associated With Solanum Lycopersicum L. In The Ashanti, Brong Ahafo And Upper East Regions of Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2015-07) Lutuf, H.Production of tomato in Ghana is threatened by plant parasitic nematodes. Identification of the types, distribution and population densities of these parasites is indispensable for the design and implementation of a proper nematode management practice. A study was conducted to: assess farmers‟ knowledge and perception on plant parasitic nematode occurrence and management on their farms in nine communities of Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Upper East Regions of Ghana; Identify genera of plant parasitic nematodes associated with tomato production in the communities; determine the relative abundance of identified nematodes from tomato roots and rhizosphere soil; morphologically characterize field populations of Meloidogyne incognita; compare morphometric features of the parasite reported to that in literature and determine which features account for total morphological variations of the populations through principal component analysis (PCA). Semi-structured questionnaires were designed and administered to fifty four randomly selected farmers from nine communities namely Afrancho, Akumadan, Asuosu, Tono, Vea, Pwalugu, Tachimentia, Tanoso and Tuobodom. Data collected in the questionnaire were subjected to descriptive statistics. Composite rhizosphere soil and tomato roots were collected from two randomly selected farms in each of the nine communities and nematode extracted from them, identified and enumerated. Morphometric characters were measured on adult males and second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita. Principal component analysis was performed on the measurements to determine the morphological features accounting for the total variation of measured characters. The findings indicated that farmers were ignorant of plant parasitic nematodes as pathogens of their tomato crops although they experienced symptoms of nematode infestation on their tomato fields. Most farmers (63%) continually cropped their land to tomato for 4-7 years without any form of rotation and all the farmers interviewed (100%) applied only inorganic fertilizer to their crops. Eight genera of plant parasitic nematodes were identified; (Helicotylenchus spp., Hoplolaimus spp., Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp., Rotylenchuluss spp., Scutellonema spp., Tylenchus spp. and Xiphinema spp.) from rhizosphere soils and four from roots of tomato plants (Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp., Rotylenchulus spp. and Scutellonema spp.) at varying densities. Meloidogyne spp. was found to be the most abundant genus (37.41%, 69.27%) in soil (200 cm3) and roots (10 g) respectively. Meloidogyne incognita was the most abundant Meloidogyne species (59% of males and 75% of Juveniles) based on head morphology of adult males and tail shapes of second stage juveniles, Average morphometric measurements of adult males were: Body length =1131.28 μm, Greatest body width= 34.45 μm, DEGO= 3.69 μm, Gubernaculum length = 10.19 μm, Stylet length= 25.45 μm, Tail length =11.15 μm and Spicule length= 29.26 μm and second stage juveniles were: Body length = 405.54 μm, Greatest body width = 15.16 μm, Stylet length = 12.35 μm and Tail length = 46.67 μm. These measurements were generally larger than those reported in the literature for M. incognita. PCA indicated that total body length and greatest body width were important characters in separating adult males of M. incognita from four communities while tail length, body length and stylet length were important in separating J2 of M. incognita from the nine communities.Item Morphometric Characterisation of Root-Knot Nematode Populations from Three Regions in Ghana(Plant Pathology Journal, 2018-12) Nyaku, S.T.; Lutuf, H.; Cornelius, E.Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production in Ghana is limited by the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita, and yield losses over 70% have been experienced in farmer fields. Major management strategies of the root-knot nematode (RKN), such as rotation and nematicide application, and crop rotation are either little efficient and harmful to environments, with high control cost, respectively. Therefore, this study aims to examine morphometric variations of RKN populations in Ghana, using principal component analysis (PCA), of which the information can be utilized for the development of tomato cultivars resistant to RKN. Ninety (90) second-stage juveniles (J2) and 16 adult males of M. incognita were morphometrically characterized. Six and five morphometric variables were measured for adult males and second-stage juveniles (J2) respectively. Morphological measurements showed differences among the adult males and second-stage juveniles (J2). A plot of PC1 and PC2 for M. incognita male populations showed clustering into three main groups. Populations from Asuosu and Afrancho (Group I) were more closely related compared to populations from Tuobo-dom and Vea (Group II). There was however a single nematode from Afrancho (AF4) that fell into Group III. Biplots for male populations indicate, body length, DEGO, greatest body width, and gubernaculum length serving as variables distinguishing Group 1 and Group 2 populations. These same groupings from the PCA were reflected in the dendogram generated using Ag-glomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC). This study provides the first report on morphometric characteri-sation of M. incognita male and juvenile populations in Ghana showing significant morphological variation.Item Morphometric characterisation of Scutellonema bradys populations from the Guinea Savanna and Transitional Rain Forest ecological zones of Ghana(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2017-07) Nyaku, S.T.; Jamani, Y.S.; Cornelius, E.; Lutuf, H.Yam (Dioscorea spp.) forms a large portion of Ghanaian diets and is cultivated in most regions. However, yam is highly susceptible to parasitism by the yam nematode, Scutellonema bradys. Ten major yam communities from 10 districts (Yendi, Karaga, East Gonja, Kumbungu, Savelugu/Nanton, Kintampo North, Techiman, Wenchi, Atebubu/Amanten and Ejura/Sekyeredumase) were selected for soil and yam tuber sampling. Body lengths ranged from 624.6 to 858.5 µm, and 609.5 to 854.1 µm for female and male S. bradys populations, respectively. Tail lengths ranged from 5.3 to 9.6 µm, and 5.2 to 8.6 µm for female and male S. bradys populations, respectively. Principal component analysis did not reveal distinct groups among the female and male populations. This was further confirmed through agglomerative hierarchical clustering with subgroupings showing less than 20% dissimilarity for both female and male populations, and nematodes from different locations clustered together. Significant morphological variation therefore exists both within and among female and male S. bradys populations as reflected in the formation of subgroups. © 2018, © 2018 Southern African Plant & Soil Sciences Committee.