Effect of Different Levels of Helicotylenchus Nematode Infestation on the Growth and Yield of Sweet Potato

Author(s): E.A. Lopez, R.M. Gapasin and M.K Palomar


Low population density of Helicotylenchus stimulated plant growth. Weights of tops, roots and tubers at a population of approximately 1,000 nematodes per plant were higher than those of the control. Plant growth was not retarded at low levels of nematode population. However, as the population was increased to 10,000 per plant, weights of tubers, roots and tops of sweet potato decreased, but only the difference in root weight was statistically significant. Helicotylenchus spp. tended to be parasitic, instead of pathogenic, to sweet potato.

Keywords : Helicotylenchus spp. Nematode. Population density. Parasitic. Pathogenic. Sweet potato. Growth and yield.

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