PATHOGENICITY AND REPRODUCTION OF TWO SPECIES OF XIPHINEMA ON SELECTED VEGETABLE CROPS IN LIBERIA

Abstract

Population densities of Xiphinema ifacolum increased fourfold on cowpea, eggplant and tomato and six to ten fold on okra, over a period of four months. Growth of cowpea, okra cv. Better Five, at higher population densities, but not cv. Clemson Spineless and tomato were suppressed by the attacks of the nematode; it also affected growth and yields of pepper in the field, where it could be controlled by applications of carbofuran and prophos. Cowpea, okra and eggplant did not appear to be good hosts for X. longicaudatum which, however, severely depressed the growth of eggplant.