Integrated use of poultry manure and Trichoderma reesei for the control of (Meloidogyne arenaria) on Indian spinach (Basella alba) in Calabar

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne arenaria) is a serious pathogen affecting Indian spinach production. The high rate of infestation of this pathogen on Indian spinach in Calabar has led to decrease in Indian spinach production.  Research into the control of M. arenaria was carried out in screenhouse Botanic Garden University of Calabar, Calabar to evaluate the efficacy of poultry manure in combination with inoculum density of Trichoderma reesei in the management of M. arenaria infesting Indian spinach (Basella alba). One gram of spore load of T. reesei at 3.0×107 spore/ml, 2.8×107 spores/ml, 1.30×107 spores/ml and 2.0×106 spore/ml were applied singly or in combination with poultry manure at 0, 5 t/ha, 10 t/ha and 15 t/ha per pot. Soil unamended with poultry manure and un-inoculated with T. reesei serves as the control. There were 20 treatments laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Two weeks old Indian spinach plants were inoculated with 10 ml (3,000) second stage larvae of M. arenaria in soil. The result revealed that Indian spinach plant was highly susceptible to M. arenaria infection as gall index was rated (G.I = 5.00) without poultry manure and T. reesei. Successive increase in poultry manure rates and inoculum density of T. reesei inoculated individually significantly (p<0.05) reduced root gall in plant. Application of various rates of poultry manure in combination with T. reesei significantly (p<0.05) inhibited root galling than single application. Inoculation of T. reesei at 3.0 × 107 spore/ml with 15 t/ha of poultry manure significantly decreased the susceptibility to (GI = 2.00). The combination of T. reesei with poultry manure significantly (p<0.05) enhanced the growth parameters, number of pods and fresh pod weight. The highest fresh pod (101.00 g/ plant) was obtained when 3.0×107 spores/ml of T. reesei was combined with 15 t/ha of poultry manure.