Screening soybean (Glycine max L.) Merrill cultivars for response to root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne (Goeldi) spp. in two agro-ccological zones in Ghana, West Africa

Abstract

Ten soybean cultivars were grown for two seasons in fields heavily infested by Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita and M. javanica in two agroecological zones of Ghana in order to assess their reaction to the root-knot nematodes. To evaluate the reaction of the cultivars to the root­ knot nematodes, second stage juveniles (J2)/g root, root gall index and number of eggs/ g root, egg mass index, plant growth and dry grain yield were determined. The cultivars TG.x 1831-21E and TGx 18O2-3F were found to be resistant to all root-knot nematode populations present whilst TGx I789-7F and TGx 1834-1E were highly susceptible. About 90% of the cultivars recorded an average of 42 days to flowering. Three cultivars; TGx 1830 - 20E. Bcngbie and TGx 1X33 - 20E were early, while the remaining seven were medium maturing. TG.x 1830 20E recorded the highest average yield across locations.