Description

Abstract: A survey was undertaken in 1999 and 2001 in predominant peanut growing areas in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Volta regions of Ghana. The purpose was to identify the nematode pests of peanut and use the

information for developing an appropriate integrated pest management (IPM) strategy for the crop. Ten genera of plant parasitic nematodes belonging to three Orders were found associated with peanut production in the areas surveyed. Population densities and distributions of the genera varied in the four regions. Six genera (Helicotylenchus, Meloidogyne (juveniles), Paratrichodorus, Pratylenchus, Rotylenchulus and Xiphinema) were found in all the four regions. Hoplolaimus was found only in the Eastern region. Trichodorus and Tylenchorhynchus were absent from Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions but present in the Eastern and Volta regions. A genus of nematodes known as Rhignema, which belonged to the Order Rhigonematida, was isolated from millipedes collected in the rhizosphere of peanut.