Evaluation of the Growth and Yield of Solanum Lycopersicum L. Pectomech Grafts in Rootknot Nematode Infested Soils.Pdf
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University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh EVALUATION OF THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L. PECTOMECH GRAFTS IN ROOTKNOT NEMATODE INFESTED SOILS BY CHARLES AGYEMAN (10273807) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MPHIL CROP SCIENCE DEGREE DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE COLLEGE OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON. JULY, 2016 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I, CHARLES AGYEMAN, do hereby declare that except for references cited which have been duly acknowledged this thesis “Evaluation of the growth and yield of Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Pectomech’ grafts in Root knot Nematode Infested Soils” is the result of my own research. It has never been presented either in part or in whole for the award of any degree. .............................................................. ........................................................ Charles Agyeman Date .............................................................. ........................................................ Dr. Naalamle Amissah (Main Supervisor) Date .............................................................. ........................................................ Dr. S.T Nyaku Date i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to the Almighty God, creator of Heaven and Earth and his only begotten son the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross that all might be saved and have everlasting life. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Naalamle Amissah and Dr. S.T Nyaku; my supervisors, whose guidance, suggestions, and involvement saw to the completion of this work. My deepest appreciation goes to my mother Elizabeth Adjei for her love and financial support which saw me throughout my period of study. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to my friend Maudline Oye Okyere for her encouragement, support, advice and prayers. This research thesis is part of the Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana funded project titled “Evaluation of vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality of grafted tomato plants in root-knot nematode infested soils”. I am grateful for their financial support through the principal investigator Dr. Naalamle Amissah of the Crop Science Department, College of Basic and Applied Sciences without which this project would not have been possible. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page No. DECLARATION............................................................................................................................ i DEDICATION............................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... x LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... xi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ xiii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Justification ........................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Origin and botany of tomato ................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Cultivation of tomato in Ghana ............................................................................................. 6 2.2.1 Pests and Diseases of tomato .......................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) ....................................................................... 7 2.2.2.1 Biology and life cycle of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). ...................... 9 2.2.2.3 Symptoms of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) infection. ......................... 10 2.2.2.4 Molecular Identification of root-knot nematode species. ...................................... 12 2.2.2.5 Management of root knot nematodes..................................................................... 15 2.3 Fusarium wilt....................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.1 Biology and life cycle ................................................................................................... 16 2.3.2 Symptoms of Fusarium wilt infection in tomatoes ....................................................... 17 2.3.3 Control/Management of Fusarium wilt in tomatoes ..................................................... 17 2.4 Vegetable grafting ............................................................................................................... 18 2.4.1 Importance of vegetable grafting .................................................................................. 18 2.4.2 Selection of rootstock for tomato grafting .................................................................... 19 2.5 Vegetable grafting techniques ............................................................................................. 22 iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 2.5.1 Graft union formation....................................................................................................... 23 2.6 Vegetable grafting and fruit quality. ................................................................................... 26 2.7 Screening of Solanum rootstocks against root-knot nematodes.......................................... 28 2.7.1 Screening of rootstocks for the Mi gene using molecular markers .............................. 31 2.8 Rootstock regrowth (Suckering) ......................................................................................... 33 2.9 Cost implications of using grafted tomato transplants ........................................................ 34 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 35 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ......................................................................................... 35 3.1 Study Area. .......................................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Experiment 1: Detection of Mi gene which confers resistance to root knot nematodes in Solanum rootstocks (PCR experiment) ..................................................................................... 35 3.2.1 Sources of seeds and preparation.................................................................................. 35 3.2.2 Fertilizer application ..................................................................................................... 35 3.2.3 Inoculation of plants with nematode juveniles ............................................................. 36 3.2.4 Experimental design ..................................................................................................... 36 Treatment structure ................................................................................................................ 36 3.2.6 Root-knot nematode extraction and counting ............................................................... 37 3.2.6.1 Counting of root-knot nematode eggs.................................................................... 38 3.2.7 Scoring of root-knot nematode galls............................................................................. 39 3.2.8 Establishing the reaction of Solanum spp. rootstocks against root-knot nematode...... 39 3.3 DNA extraction ................................................................................................................... 40 3.3.1 Genomic DNA amplification........................................................................................ 40 3.4 Experiment 2: Effect of grafting Solanum lycopersicum “Pectomech” on Solanum macrocarpon, Solanum lycopersicum “Mongal F1” and Solanum aethiopicum on fruit quality, shelf life, yield and agronomic parameters in nematode infested soils (Field Pot experiment). ................................................................................................................................................... 41 3.4.1 Planting materials used ................................................................................................. 41 3.4.2 Raising of seedlings