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Research on Crops

Plant-parasitic nematodes in subsistence maize producing regions of the Republic of South Africa


DOI: 10.31830/2348-7542.2026.ROC-1263    | Article Id: ROC-1263 | Page : 333-342
Citation :- Plant-parasitic nematodes in subsistence maize producing regions of the Republic of South Africa. Res. Crop. 27: 333-342
G. L. NGOBENI, P. W. MASHELA AND K. M. POFU phatu.mashela@ul.ac.za
Address : University of Limpopo, Green Biotechnologies Research Centre of Excellence, Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Private BagX1106, Sovenga 0727 South Africa
Submitted Date : 9-11-2025
Accepted Date : 20-04-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

Limited information exists on the occurrence and distribution of plant nematodes in subsistence maize-producing agricultural areas of South Africa. A nematode survey was thus conducted during summer 2023 in three maize-producing areas each of the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces of South Africa, to assess the occurrence and distribution of plant nematodes over one season. Results demonstrated that root-knot (Meloidogyne javanica, M. incognita) and root-lesion (Pratylenchus zeae) nematodes are the most abundant nematode groups in sampled maize fields followed by spirals (Rotylenchus brevicaudatus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, H. multicinctus) and reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus parvus). Ten other plant-parasitic nematode genera in order of predominance included Hemicriconemoides, Dolichodoridae, Aphelenchus, Scutellonema, Dorylaiminae, Scutellonema, Criconemoides, Ditylenchus, Longidorus and Xiphenema were also identified. Under mixed-species communities, M. javanica outcompeted M. incognita, whereas P. zeae outcompeted P. brachyurus. In conclusion, the low maize yields in subsistence maize-producing areas can, among other challenges, be attributed to the widespread occurrence and distribution of plant nematodes.

Keywords

Maize Meloidogyne spp. nematodes Pratylenchus spp. 

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