Asian Journal of Plant and Soil Sciences

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are reported to be associated with sugarcane and are considered detrimental to the crop, resulting to low quality produce and low yielding ability. This study aimed at identifying the plant-parasitic nematode genera associated with sugarcane, as well as its prevalence in the selected sampling sites of Northern Cebu, Philippines. Root and soil samples were collected from Bogo City (Phil99-1793 & VMC84- 947), Medellin (VMC84-947 & Mauritius), and San Remigio (VMC84-947 & Mauritius). Nematodes from roots and soil rhizosphere were extracted following the standard methods and were identified up to genus level based on morphological characteristics. A total of eleven (11) plant-parasitic nematode genera (Criconema, Ditylenchus, Filenchus, Helicotylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Rotylenchulus, Rotylenchus, Tylenchus, and Xiphinema) which belong to nine different families were identified. Among these identified nematode genera, Meloidogyne were the most abundant in sugarcane roots, and Helicotylenchus in soil rhizosphere. However, no nematode genera recovered from the roots were considered prevalent as their frequency and abundance were too low, which occurred only in some localities. In roots, Helicotylenchus was the predominant nematode genera due to its high frequency of occurrence in all sampling sites and high abundance in two sampling sites. Other identified nematode genera were less prevalent as observed in their relatively low abundance and frequency of occurrence. These results may advance farmers’ knowledge on plant-parasitic nematodes associated with sugarcane in their locality and assess appropriate control measures in mitigating them.