Black nightshade is commercially cultivated in Kenya as a source of nutrition and income to the rural populations. Besides insect pests, root-knot nematodes (RKN) are important production constraints of this vegetable. Little information is available on the efficacy of Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl (TD) and agro-industrial wastes of pyrethrum marc (PM) and tea residue (Tres) on RKN. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the optimum levels of amending soils with TD, PM, vegetable waxy resins (VWR), Tres and cattle manure (CM) at their respective rates for management of RKN. The amendments were incorporated into the soil 14 days before sowing the seeds. Thereafter 21-day-old seedlings were inoculated with ten egg-masses, with four replications arranged in randomized complete block design. Plant growth and disease parameters were assessed and subjected to ANOVA. Disease severity and population reduced significantly at levels 2 and 3 for most amendments with the highest top biomass recorded in CM, TD and PM. Higher levels of Tres and VWR caused stunting and reduced biomass. Lower severity occurred in VWR, Tres, PM, and CM at 20%, 28.0, 9.0, and 9.0 g/kg soil, respectively, with reproduction ranging from 0.3 to 3.7 recorded on amended soils with Tres at 32.0 g/kg, TD at 8 g/kg soil and CM at 9.0 g/kg. Higher yields, lower severity and reproduction were found on soil with PM, Tres, TD, CM and VWR at 9.0, 28.0, 8.0, 9.0 g/kg soil, and 20.0%, respectively. These amendments are alternatives in ecofriendly management of RKN and other plant parasitic nematodes.

Summary Bananas (Musa spp.) are considered the most important fruit crop in Kenya, grown mostly by smallholder farmers. However, in the past two decades production has declined and has largely been attributed to plant pathogens, including plant-parasitic nematodes. To assess the understanding and awareness that banana farmers have of nematodes, a survey was conducted. The incidence, abundance and distribution of nematodes in relation to altitude were determined for different banana types on 180 farms and the pathogenicity of Pratylenchus goodeyi, originating from three different altitudinal locations, was compared on two banana cultivars. Just 2.3% of farmers were aware of nematode damage and symptoms, none of whom applied any management measures. The highest abundance of nematodes was recorded at an altitude range of 1601-2000 m a.s.l., with Pratylenchus, Meloidogyne and Helicotylenchus being the predominant genera. Across all altitudinal locations, cooking banana had higher densities of nematodes than dessert bananas. In pots, P. goodeyi populations from Embu (1300 m a.s.l.) appeared more aggressive and with higher levels of multiplication than the population from Oyugis (1100 m a.s.l.). Cooking banana (‘Ng’ombe’) was more susceptible than dessert banana (‘Sukari Ndizi’). Nematode damage is more prominent in areas at higher altitude and on cooking banana cultivars. The findings provide key information in guiding informed and suitable management decision thresholds in relation to potential climate change.

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Purpose: To screen nine available bean genotypes for resistance to common bacterial blight disease under green house and field conditions.Methodology: Experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications in a 9×2×2 factorial factor of 9 bean genotypes, grown in sterile or non-sterile soil and inoculated or non-inoculated (control) during the greenhouse and a 9×2 field screening of 9 bean genotypes, and inoculated or non-inoculated. During growth, data on plant height number of pods per plant, length of pods and size and number ofCBB spots was taken. Yield parameters were also assessed.Findings: The findings from the experiment revealed a significant variation (P<0.05) on the entire traits studied among the nine bean genotypes. Data from the field and greenhouse experiments were in conformity. None of the evaluated genotype was immune to CBB. In the green house, it was observed that disease symptoms were severe in beans planted in non-sterile soil and inoculated with Xap compared to those planted in sterile soil and non-inoculated respectively.Contribution to practice and policy: There was a strong positive correlation between size and number of CBB spots and growth and yield parameters. CAL77 and Cal 156A genotypes exhibited high levels of resistance to CBB which could improve the bean yields resulting to sufficient food supply, improved nutrition, health and improvement of the source of income to the local communities