African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (8), pp.

379-381, August 2004

Available online at [Link]
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Control of Meloidogyne incognita (kofoid and white)

chitwood (root-knot nematode) of Lycopersicon
esculentus (tomato) using cowdung and urine
Abubakar U., Adamu T.* and Manga S.B.
Department of Biological SciencesUsmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 July, 2004.

Screenhouse experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of cowdung and urine separately and in
combination in the control of root-knot nematode of tomato. Equal quantities of cowdung, urine and
their mixture were separately made up to one litre with autoclaved soil. Two weeks old seedlings of
tomato raised in autoclaved soil were transplanted into soil manure mixture and inoculated with 1,000
second stage larvae of Meloidogyne incognita race I. Treatments were completely randomized and
effects assessed based on plant height, dry weight, extent of galling and the nematode multiplication
factor. Results obtained showed that cowdung, urine, and their mixture produced significantly higher
result than the untreated control. Similarly, the mixture of urine and cowdung, produced significantly
higher results than the separate treatments.

Key words: Meloidogyne incognita, Lycopersicon esculentus, cowdung, urine, tomato.

INTRODUCTION

Soil amendments of different kinds used as nutrient parasite relationship thereby minimizing the nemadode
sources for crop production have been found effective in damage (Vander-Borgett et al., 1994).
control of root diseases of plants. The materials, green The production of tomato, Lycopersicon esculantus, a
manure, cowdung, poultry droppings, dried crop residue major source of nutrient to man and in-come generating
(Akhtar and Alam, 1990, 1992; Abubakar, 1999) and to its growers is impaired by among other factors its
industrial by-products such as neem and castor soil infestation by nematodes. Reductions in yield ranging
cakes (Akhtar and Alam, 1991; Akhatar and Mahmoud, from 28 to 68 % have been reported (Adesiyan et al.,
1994) have been successfully used. Remarkable 1990). Cowdung has been tested and proved effective in
reductions have been achieved in nematode population control of plant nematodes (Babatola, 1990; Abubakar
in both green house and field conditions with concomitant and Majeed, 2000).
increase in growth and yield. (Abubakar and Majeed, The aim of this work is to study the effectiveness of cow
2000). Such increases in growth have been attributed to dung and urine of cow separately and in combination in
either improvement in soil condition resulting in greater the control of root-knot nematodes of tomato.
root-growth, thereby enhancing the utilization of soil
nutrients, or to changes in the biotic and abiotic
environment of the plants. These ultimately alter the host MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 30 (15cm mouth wide) plastic pots were divided into five
groups of six. The pots in groups I and II were filled with one litre of
*Corresponding author. E-Mail: TukurAdamu@[Link]. autoclaved soil only. The third groups were filled to one litre with
equal quantity of autoclaved soil and cowdung, the 4th group were
380 Afr. J. Biotechnol.

Table I. Effect of cowdung and urine on Root-knoct.

Treatment Plant height (cm) Plant dry wt Root-knot index RF

Uninoculated, untreated 14.53a 3.4a 0.0e 0.e
Inoculated untreated 8.7d 2.2d 4.1a 3.9a
Inoculated treated with Cowdung 13.8b 3.25b 1.2c 1.5c
Inoculated treated with Urine 11.5c 2.8c 1.6b 2.0b
Inoculated treated with cowdung + urine 14.4a 3.3a 0.9d 1.2d

filled with autoclaved soil thoroughly mixed with urine, while the 5th attributed to, among others, the increase in nutrients
group were filled with equal volume of autoclaved soil and cow supply to the soil, resulting from the addition of cow dung
dung with urine mixed together.
Seeds of tomato CV Sokoto local, whose susceptibility to
and urine. The addition of manure to soil leads to a better
meloidogyne incognita have been established were raised in environment for the growth of the roots. This enhances
autoclaved soil. Two weeks after sowing, 2 seedlings were the utilization of soil nutrients, as a consequence of which
transplanted into each pot. Thereafter, one thousand second stage the nematode damage might have been markedly
juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita race I. were inoculated into reduced (Vander-Borgett et al., 1994). The observed
each pot except those of the 1st group which serve as control. The decrease in number of nematodes may be responsible
experiments were conducted in a screen house with the pot
arranged in randomized block design. The plants were watered
for the increased in growth of the seedlings. Such
regularly. decrease means less disturbances to the seedlings
Four weeks after transplant, the seedling were uprooted and resulting in an unhindered growth (Vander-Borgett et al.,
growth was observed in terms of (i) plant height (ii) dry weight of 1994).
plant, and (iii) extent of galling. The nematode multiplication factor The reduction in the reproductive factor of the
was also accessed.. nematode may be responsible for the observed decrease
The nematode for this work were obtained from an infected tomato
farm, previously inoculated with the egg mass of the nematode, in root-knot indices. The decrease in number of the
using cobb’s decantation and sieving techniques followed by nematode accompanied by increase in growth of tomato
modified Baermann’s furnnel method. At the end of the experiment suggests nematicidal potential of the cowdung and urine.
the soil nematode population were extracted by the same methods Similar observation had been made by other workers
and counted. The roots of the tomato were cut into smaller pieces (Babatola, 1990; Akhtar and Alam, 1990, 1992; Alam et
and mixed homogenously in a blender for 45 seconds. One gram (1
g) of the root was taken and examined under a dissecting
al., 1994). The superior increase in growth observed in
microscope. The number of juveniles, eggs, and females were plants treated with combined cowdung and urine over
counted. those treated separate by doses of urine and cowdung
Root-knot index was determined using sasser et al, (1984) scale may be attributed to the availability of more nutrients to
of 0 = No galling; 1 = 1-10 galls; 2 = 11 – 20 galls; 3 = 21 – 30 galls; plants for a longer period.
4 = 31-100 galls and 5 = more than 100 galls.
Data obtained were analysed using the new Duncan Multiple
Range Test.
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