research for development CSIR-CRI In-house review and research planning 2012 K. Osei

2011 Activities Project Titles  Managing nematodes population with botanicals in yam production (completed)  Screening sweet potato cultivars for root- knot nematode resistance (completed)  Effect of some organic waste extracts on hatching of Meloidogyne incognita eggs (completed)

2011 Activities cont’d Project Titles (Collaborative Research)  Water yam varieties resistance to plant parasitic nematodes infection (completed)  Effect of mixed cropping system on diversity and density of plant parasitic nematodes (on-going)  Reaction of confectionery groundnut lines to plant parasitic nematodes infection (completed)

2011 Activities cont’d Project Titles (Collaborative Research)  Integrated Pest Management in tomato production (First phase ended)  Management of nematodes with recommended nematicide in mechanized yam production (on-going)

Screening sweet potato cultivars for root-knot nematode resistance Source of funding  WAAPP

Research Team  Dr. K. Osei – Nematologist (Leader)  Mrs. A. Agyeman – Biometrician  Mr. Yaw Danso – Breeder/ Nematologist  Mr. J. S. Asante – Chief Technician

Duration  Date of start – March 2010  Date of completion – March 2012

Objective  To evaluate the genetic potential of sweet potato cultivars to resist root-knot nematode infection

Introduction  More edible energy, protein and dry matter per hectare  Tremendous health benefits  Contains beta-carotene  Reduces vitamin A deficiency  Treats diabetes  Lowers blood glucose levels

Introduction cont’d  Crop attacked by plant parasitic nematodes  Root-knot nematodes – Meloidogyne spp.

Introduction cont’d  Reniform nematode- Rotylenchulus reniformis

Introduction cont’d  Lesion nematode – Pratylenchus spp.

Introduction cont’d  Stem nematode – Ditylenchus spp.

Introduction cont’d  Gall formation on tubers x’tic of rkn infection  Lowers commercial value of the produce  Nine cultivars evaluated for resistance to rkn at Fumesua and Ejura

Methodology  Apomuden, Faara, Hi Starch, Ogyefo, Okumkom, Otoo, Santom Pona, Sauti & Tek Santom  Design – RCB  Replication – 3  Propagation material- apical vine (15 cm )  Double row planted on ridges (100 x 30 cm)

Methodology cont’d  M. incognita identified from Euphorbia heterophylla on the plots  Root-knot nematode pop n /200 cm 3 soil was determined at start and at harvest  Storage root galling index (0-10) recorded

Methodology cont’d  Yield of cultivars was recorded  Nematode count data was log transformed (ln (x + 1))  Index based data was square root transformed (√(1+0.5))

Methodology cont’d  Analysis of data with GenStat 8.1  Mean separation-Fisher’s LSD (P<0.05)

Table 1. M. incognita pop n / 200 cm 3 Cultivar Ejura Fumesua Apomuden460(2.6)c 172(2.2)c Faara 48(1.7)a 33(1.5)a Hi Starch109(1.9)ab 213(2.3)cd Ogyefo 57(1.7)a 73(1.6)b Okumkom 313(2.3)b 175(2.2)c Otoo 44(1.6)a 26(1.4)a Santom Pona 187(2.1)abc 104(1.9)bc Sauti200(2.2)abc 165(2.2)c Tek Santom 93(1.8)ab 82(1.7)b LSD (P <0.05) (0.6) (0.4)

Table 2. Storage root gall index(0-10) Cultivar Ejura Fumesua Apomuden 9.0(3.0)c 7.7(2.8)c Faara 1.3(0.9)a 2.0(1.1)ab Hi Starch 3.3(1.5)a 2.0(1.1)ab Ogyefo 3.7(1.8)b 1.3(0.7)a Okumkom 1.7(1.0)a 1.3(0.7)a Otoo 3.3(1.5)a 1.3(0.7)a Santom Pona 2.0(1.3)a 3.3(1.8)a Sauti 0.3(0.3)a 2.0(1.1)ab Tek Santom 0.7(0.5)a 0(0)* LSD (P <0.05) (1.0) (0.7)

Severely galled tuber

Table 3. Yield (kg) of sweet potato Cultivar Ejura Relat. yield Fumesua Relat. yield Apomuden 7.0d c 2.1 Faara 5.0c b 1.4 Hi Starch 2.5a b 1.5 Ogyefo 3.7a a 1.3 Okumkom 7.6d c 2.1 Otoo 4.3ab c 1.9 Santom Pona 8.4d c 2.8 Sauti 2.2a a 1.3 Tek Santom 1.5a a 1.0 LSD (P <0.05)

Discussion  Rkn significant problem in sweet potato production  Apomuden, Okumkom and Sauti heavily infected  The pest load on Apomuden was (6.6 & 10.5), Okumkom (6.7 & 7.1) and Sauti (6.3 & 4.5) times that of Otoo at the two locations

Discussion cont’d  Tek Santom though the slightest yielding cultivar was the least affected by galls  Galls on Apomuden were 12.9 & 7.7 times that of Tek Santom at both locations  Yields were generally low but extremely low at Ejura  Santom Pona was the highest yielding cultivar (20 & 8.4 t/ha) at both locations

Discussion cont’d  It was not different from Apomuden (15.2 & 7.0 t/ha) at both locations respectively  Santom Pona out-yielded Tek Santom by (2.8 & 5.6) times, while Apomuden out- yielded it by (2.1 & 4.7) times  Santom Pona was (2.8 & 5.7) times better than Tek Santom  Tek Santom was identified as a resistant while Apomuden was a tolerant cultivar.

YEAR 2012 ACTIVITIES Project Titles Uncompleted projects started in 2011 shall continue  Nematode suppression and soil improvement potential of biochar in okra production  Molecular identification of root-knot nematodes from weed species  Nematode pests associated with bambara groundnut, Vigna subterranean L.

Nematode suppression and soil improvement potential of biochar Source of funding  WAAPP

Research Team  Dr. K. Osei – Nematologist – Leader  Mr. Ibrahim Adama – Entomologist  Mr. Calyx Tagoe – Soil Scientist (SRI)  Mrs. Adelaide Agyeman – Biometrician

Objective  To identify environmentally friendly option of managing soil pests and soil fertility levels

Introduction  Nematodes, potential pests of crops  Infection reduces the plants genetic potential  Nematodes infected plants yellow and stunt at early age  Annual losses caused by nematodes to okra have been estimated at 20.4%

Introduction cont’d  Synthetic agro-chemicals effective but dangerous  Organic materials as amendments are sustainable options  Corn cobs and rice husk based biochar would be evaluated at Kpando Torkor and Kpeve

Methodology  Two factor expt. on RCBD at 2 locations  Two varieties of okra  Two levels each of two biochar materials  Two bags NPK/acre  Control  Replications – 3  Nematode extraction- MBF method

Assessment  Soil pH  Organic carbon (%)  OM (%)  Total nitrogen  Root galling index (0-10)  Nematode pop n /200 cm 3 soil; g- 1 root  Plant height; Root length (cm)  Yield (kg)

Expected Output  Nematode suppression and soil improvement biochar identified and recommended to farmers

Publications  Osei, K., Moss, R., Nafeo, A., Addico, R., Agyeman, A., Danso, Y and Asante, J. S Management of plant parasitic nematodes with antagonistic plants. Journal of Applied Biosciences 37:  Osei, K Effective stage of African marigold in reducing M. incognita population in tomato crop. Botswana Journal of Agric. and Applied Sciences 7:

Publications cont’d  Osei, K., Agyeman, A., Asante, J.S., Moss, R. and Nafeo, A Nematode suppression and yield improvement potential of organic amendments in pineapple production. Acta Hort. 902 ISHS 2011  Osei, K., Moss, R., Nafeo, A., Addico, R., Agyemang, A., Danso, Y. and Asante, J.S Managing nematode pests and improving yield of pineapple with Mucuna pruriens. Journal of Entomology and Nematology 3:

Publications cont’d  Osei, K., Addico, R., Nafeo, A., Adu-Kwarteng, E., Agyeman, A., Danso, Y. and Asante, J. S Effects of some organic waste extracts on hatching of M. incognita eggs. African Journal of Agricultural Research 6:  Osei, K., Bam, R. K. and Asante J. S Rice production practices and farmers’ perception of the white tip nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi. Journal of Applied Biosciences 47:

Publications cont’d  Leguminous cover crops in nematode suppression and soil improvement. ISBN: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2011, Germany, 110 pp.  Managing root-knot nematodes with the African marigold. ISBN: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2011, Germany, 81 pp.

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