- Frederick Kankam, Elias Nortaa Kunedeb Sowley*, Mohammed Alhassan
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
Abstract
Okra (Abelmoschus esculuntus (L.) Moench) is a popular vegetable in Ghana but its production is limited by nematode infestation of soils. Pot experiments were carried out in a plant house at the Nyankpala campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale to assess the effect of aqueous sesame seed extract on rootknot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) of okra.
The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with each of the four treatments replicated four times.Treatments consisted of three levels of sesame seed extract (10, 20 and 30 g/50ml) per pot and a control (0 g/50ml).All pots were inoculated with 1000 root-knot nematode eggs a week before the application of the treatments. Data collected included plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, fruit weight, fresh root weight, number of fruits, nematode eggs per 50 g of fresh soil and root galling index.
The results showed that aqueous extract of S. indicum at 30 g/50 ml (w/v) suppressed root-knot nematodes better than the control. Similarly, okra plants treated with S. indicum had the lowest infection index (root gall). There were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment means for number of fruits and fruit weight of okra between aqueous sesame seed extract at 30 g/50 ml and the control. Yield of okra can be enhanced and nematode population reduced through the application of sesame seed extract preferably at 30 g/50ml
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