Integration of Glomus mosseae with Chromolaena odorata powder for suppression of Meloidogyne incognita on maize (Zea mays L.)

Meloidogyne incognita infestation on maize results in heavy yield loss in farmers’ field. Most of the varieties adopted by subsistence farmers in Nigeria are susceptible to M. incognita. Beside these, the cost of control exceeding the profit from the crop using nematicides and the pollution risk they pose to the environment has necessitated the need for alternatives. Pot and field experiments were, therefore, conducted to investigate the effects of Chromolaena odorata powder and Glomus mosseae (a mycorrhizal fungus) on M. incognita pathogenicity on maize. Hybrid Oba super II improved maize variety adopted by local farmers was selected for the study. Maize plants were grown with G. mosseae (5 spores/g of soil) and soil amended with C. odorata powder (1% w/w) singly and in combination. Two weeks after emergence, Test plants were inoculated with 5000 M. incognita eggs. Sixty days after planting, destructive samples were assessed for root gall symptom and severity, and nematode population. Results show that G. mosseae and C. odorata powder were effective in controlling the population of M. incognita and the root knot nematode symptom and gave the highest yield parameters in combination. Single application of G. mosseae and C. odorata powder was similar in the effect on M. incognita and maize yield. Combination of G. mosseae and C. odorata powder may become a viable alternative to nematicide in managing M. incognita pathogenicity on maize as C. odorata powder may serve as a carrier medium for G. mosseae.