EFFECT OF JATROPHA CURCAS ON ROOT-GALL NEMATODE DISEASE AND THE CONSEQUENT PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF OKRA: ABELMONCHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) Moench
C M. AGU *
Centre for Agricultural Research, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. P.M.B.1526, Imo State, Nigeria.
A.C. NWOGBAGA *
Department of Crop Production and Landscape Management. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
C.G. UWANDU *
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
C.A. PETER ONOH *
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
C.O. MBUKA *
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
F.O. OJIAKO *
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
N.K. NDULUE *
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
V.I. OGWUDIRE *
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Root-gall nematode disease of okra as affected by Jatropha curcas and the consequent pod proximate composition were studied. This was on sandy loam soil endemic in Meloidogyne incognita. A 2x4 factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with four replications was used. Ground J. curcas seeds and leaves were separately applied at 0,20, 40 and 60g/plant. Results showed that okra root-galls decreased as application rate of J. curcas increased. Percentage carbohydrate, protein, fibre and moisture contents however correlated negatively with root-gall responses. The reverse was however true for crude fat content.
Keywords: Jatropha curcas,, nematode, okra, proximate composition and root-gall