The influence of plant parasitic nematodes on the post harvest quality of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) plant

Abstract

Nematode is a pest which caused a serious problem to kenaf production in kenaf field at Telaga Papan, Merang, Terengganu. This problem caused high loss of kenaf production in pilot project under National Tobacco Board (L TN). In this study, the hypothesis that root-knot nematode was a constraint to the field production of kenaf was investigated. The natural population of root-knot nematodes was tested by assaying the infected kenaf field soil. The effects of plant post harvest physiology also being determined. By using the infected soil, kenaf plant was planted until their maturity stage to see the effect of their presence. The treated soil used as control soil to be as a comparison to infected soil. The growth rate was taken once every month. After three month, when the plant harvested the diameter of basal discs, moisture loss and microscopic observation have been done to the root. For the postharvest evaluation, the height of kenaf shows slightly differences where the infected soil is lower in height. The basal diameter of kenaf in infected soil is ununiformly form and high moisture loss which is more than 55% than control soil. The root ofkenaf in soil infected by nematode is stunted with galls and egg mass on it but in treated soil, the root grows healthy. From the microscopic observation, the presence of Meloidogyne spp. had been determined based on their basic morphology.