Management of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita infecting cowpea as influenced by intercropping with sea ambrosia, jojoba and marigold as antagonistic plants.

摘要

Sea ambrosia (Damsisa), jojoba and marigold plants intercropped at densities of 1, 2, 3 and 4 plants with cowpea significantly (p<=0.01 and 0.05) lowered Meloidogyne incognita, the root-knot nematode on cowpea as indicated by number of the nematode galls and egg-masses compared to those on cowpea grown alone. The highest percentage reduction in number of the galls and egg-masses was produced on cowpea roots (83.9 & 90.9%) when cowpea was intercropped with marigold followed by sea ambrosia (74.2 & 81.8%) and by jojoba (67.7 & 72.7%) when cowpea was intercropped with four plants of each of the previous plants; respectively. There was a positive correlation between number of the studied plants and percentages reduction in the nematode galls and egg-masses on cowpea plants. In general, plant growth criteria of cowpea significantly (p<=0.01 and/or 0.05) increased when one or two plants of each of sea ambrosia, jojoba and marigold were intercropped with cowpea, being insignificant in other criteria..