Effect of Land Use on Occurrence and Diversity of Nematode Destroying Fungi in Taita Taveta, Kenya

Abstract

This study was undertaken with the objective of determining the occurrence of nematode destroying fungi in soil under different land use systems, with the ultimate goal of harnessing their potential in the control of plant parasitic nematodes. Soil samples were collected from an indigenous forest, maize/bean, napier grass, shrub and vegetable fields, which represented the main land use types in Taita Taveta district of Kenya. The fungal isolates obtained were grouped into seven genera the species identified were Arthrobotrys oligospora, A. dactyloides, Monacrosporium cionopagum, A. superba, Harposporium anguillulae, Harposporium sp., Dactyllela lobata, Acrostalagums obovatus, Haptoglosa heterospora and Nematoctonous georgenious. Occurrence of nematode destroying fungi was significantly (P: 3.81x10-7) different among the land use systems in the study area. Out of the isolates that were positively identified, 33.7, 27.9, 20.9, 11.6 and 5.8% were from fields under vegetable, maize/bean, napier grass, shrub and forest, respectively. The diversity of nematode destroying fungi was highest in the maize/bean fields and lowest forest soil. Fungal isolates from vegetable gardens were most diverse but the least even while the forest land use was most even but least diverse. The total richness of nematode destroying fungi was 9, in vegetable and maize/bean fields while was 7, 6 and 3 in napier, shrub and forest habitats, respectively. This study has established that nematode destroying fungi are widely distributed and that land use has a significant effect on their diversity