Potential of Sahelian Native Shrub Materials to Suppress the Spiral Nematode Helicotylenchus dihystera

摘要

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a drought-tolerant cereal commonly grown for grain and fodder in arid areas throughout the world.Senegalese millet fields are infested with Helicotylenchus.The native evergreen woody shrub Piliostigma reticulatumis widelydistributed in sub-SaharanAfrica.Itscoppicedresiduesare usedbysmallfarmersasmulchin cropfields.Theshrub’s nematicidal effect on the spiral nematode Helicotylenchus dihystera was evaluated in a pearl millet pot experiment.The abundance of nematodesdecreased by 64 after applicationof either leaf powder or a pulverized mixing of leaves and stems, suggesting the use of aboveground materials of P.reticulatum as a potential nematicide.The results show promise for use of a local resource by subsistence farmers in the Sahel.Further research is needed on application to fully develop this approach as a biopesticide.