Keywords
free-living nematodes
taxonomic genus
organic matter and soil texture
How to Cite
Abstract
Abstract
The research was conducted at three sites located in the departments of Ahuachapán, La Libertad and San Vicente in El Salvador, where Theobroma cacao is grown, during the period from September 2018 to February 2019. At each site, sampling was performed in zigzag and the samples obtained were subjected to physicochemical and nematological analyses in order to identify and compare the populations of phytoparasitic and free-living nematode genera, and to relate the population of these to organic matter and soil texture. It was found that there is a great diversity of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with cocoa cultivation in all the sites sampled. Many of the genera found are important pathogens and others could be of economic importance in the crop. In Ahuachapán, 9 genera of plant-parasitic nematodes were identified, with 9,924 individuals, and 7 free-living genera, with 921 individuals. In La Libertad, 13 genera of plant-parasitic nematodes were identified, with 2,992 individuals, and 7 free-living genera, with 420 individuals. In San Vicente, 13 genera of plantparasitic nematodes were identified, with 1,416 individuals and 7 free-living genera, with 614 individuals. The most predominant genus in the three sites was Rotylenchulus sp. The results per site mentioned are the sum total of all samples collected. Phytoparasitic and free-living nematode populations in Ahuachapán were found to be positively influenced by clay, organic matter and silt; in La Libertad they were positively influenced by organic matter, silt and sand; and in San Vicente they were positively influenced by sand and clay.
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