Nematode communities associated with papaya in Kenya : first report of Meloidogyne javanica and description of soil health in papaya fields
- Author
- Situma E. Wanjala, Wim Bert (UGent) , Marjolein Couvreur (UGent) , Joseph Maosa (UGent) , Rose C. Ramkat and Njira N. Pili
- Organization
- Project
- Abstract
- BackgroundPlant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are major pathogens of fruit trees globally, causing substantial economic losses. In Kenya, research on papaya has focused primarily on viral diseases, particularly those caused by papaya ringspot virus, with no previous reports of PPNs occurrence.ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterise the diversity of PPNs and FLNs in papaya fields in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya, and to assess the associated soil health status. Special emphasis was placed on evaluating FLNs as bioindicators of soil health.MethodsUsing the Baermann tray method, nematodes were extracted from 64 composite root and soil samples collected across 12 papaya fields in Elgeyo-Marakwet County. PPNs were identified to the genus level, with root-knot (RKN) Meloidogyne species identified by comparing their sequences with reference sequences and analysed using the PPNID tool. The FLNs were classified to the family level and analysed using NINJA software to assess soil health.ResultsFour PPN genera and six FLN families were identified, with Meloidogyne javanica being the only RKN, representing the first PPN report in papaya in Kenya. This raises concerns about potential interactions between M. javanica and viral pathogens, which could increase the incidence and severity of papaya ringspot disease. Metabolic footprint stress diagram analyses revealed fertile, mature soils capable of regulating opportunistic organisms, including PPNs.ConclusionUnderstanding soil health and nematode composition is essential for developing sustainable nematode management strategies to increase papaya yields.
- Keywords
- Maturity index, N enrichment, Metabolic footprints, Food web, Coloniser-persister (c-p), <italic>Rotylenchulus</italic>, ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE, INCOGNITA, VIRUS
Downloads
-
publisher version.pdf
- full text (Published version)
- |
- open access
- |
- |
- 1.35 MB
Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01K0XX0KEGRC7YFCFTPDGBHDBQ
- MLA
- Wanjala, Situma E., et al. “Nematode Communities Associated with Papaya in Kenya : First Report of Meloidogyne Javanica and Description of Soil Health in Papaya Fields.” BMC RESEARCH NOTES, vol. 18, no. 1, 2025, doi:10.1186/s13104-025-07352-7.
- APA
- Wanjala, S. E., Bert, W., Couvreur, M., Maosa, J., Ramkat, R. C., & Pili, N. N. (2025). Nematode communities associated with papaya in Kenya : first report of Meloidogyne javanica and description of soil health in papaya fields. BMC RESEARCH NOTES, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-025-07352-7
- Chicago author-date
- Wanjala, Situma E., Wim Bert, Marjolein Couvreur, Joseph Maosa, Rose C. Ramkat, and Njira N. Pili. 2025. “Nematode Communities Associated with Papaya in Kenya : First Report of Meloidogyne Javanica and Description of Soil Health in Papaya Fields.” BMC RESEARCH NOTES 18 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-025-07352-7.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Wanjala, Situma E., Wim Bert, Marjolein Couvreur, Joseph Maosa, Rose C. Ramkat, and Njira N. Pili. 2025. “Nematode Communities Associated with Papaya in Kenya : First Report of Meloidogyne Javanica and Description of Soil Health in Papaya Fields.” BMC RESEARCH NOTES 18 (1). doi:10.1186/s13104-025-07352-7.
- Vancouver
- 1.Wanjala SE, Bert W, Couvreur M, Maosa J, Ramkat RC, Pili NN. Nematode communities associated with papaya in Kenya : first report of Meloidogyne javanica and description of soil health in papaya fields. BMC RESEARCH NOTES. 2025;18(1).
- IEEE
- [1]S. E. Wanjala, W. Bert, M. Couvreur, J. Maosa, R. C. Ramkat, and N. N. Pili, “Nematode communities associated with papaya in Kenya : first report of Meloidogyne javanica and description of soil health in papaya fields,” BMC RESEARCH NOTES, vol. 18, no. 1, 2025.
@article{01K0XX0KEGRC7YFCFTPDGBHDBQ,
abstract = {{BackgroundPlant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are major pathogens of fruit trees globally, causing substantial economic losses. In Kenya, research on papaya has focused primarily on viral diseases, particularly those caused by papaya ringspot virus, with no previous reports of PPNs occurrence.ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterise the diversity of PPNs and FLNs in papaya fields in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya, and to assess the associated soil health status. Special emphasis was placed on evaluating FLNs as bioindicators of soil health.MethodsUsing the Baermann tray method, nematodes were extracted from 64 composite root and soil samples collected across 12 papaya fields in Elgeyo-Marakwet County. PPNs were identified to the genus level, with root-knot (RKN) Meloidogyne species identified by comparing their sequences with reference sequences and analysed using the PPNID tool. The FLNs were classified to the family level and analysed using NINJA software to assess soil health.ResultsFour PPN genera and six FLN families were identified, with Meloidogyne javanica being the only RKN, representing the first PPN report in papaya in Kenya. This raises concerns about potential interactions between M. javanica and viral pathogens, which could increase the incidence and severity of papaya ringspot disease. Metabolic footprint stress diagram analyses revealed fertile, mature soils capable of regulating opportunistic organisms, including PPNs.ConclusionUnderstanding soil health and nematode composition is essential for developing sustainable nematode management strategies to increase papaya yields.}},
articleno = {{300}},
author = {{Wanjala, Situma E. and Bert, Wim and Couvreur, Marjolein and Maosa, Joseph and Ramkat, Rose C. and Pili, Njira N.}},
issn = {{1756-0500}},
journal = {{BMC RESEARCH NOTES}},
keywords = {{Maturity index,N enrichment,Metabolic footprints,Food web,Coloniser-persister (c-p),<italic>Rotylenchulus</italic>,ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE,INCOGNITA,VIRUS}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{8}},
title = {{Nematode communities associated with papaya in Kenya : first report of Meloidogyne javanica and description of soil health in papaya fields}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-025-07352-7}},
volume = {{18}},
year = {{2025}},
}
- Altmetric
- View in Altmetric