Relationship between Xiphinema ifacolum and rice in Liberia

Abstract

A field experiment undertaken at Suakoko in Liberia demonstrated that Xiphinema ifacolum Luc suppresses growth and yield of rice, Oryza sativa L. Nematode population reduction and yield increase were obtained with the soil application of carbofuran at the rates of 4 to 12 kg a.i.lha. Pathogenicity tests indicated that the nematode may interact with other root pathogens although a density of 10 X. ifacoluml100 ml soil alone caused about 30% reduction in the root system with respect to the control over a period of two months. The response of roots and root cells to the feeding of X. ifacolum resembles that observed for other longidorid nematodes.