Abstract

M. D. Shokoand M. Zhou

There is a long history of association between nematodes and sugarcane. Root knot nematode (Meloidogyne), cyst nematode (Heterodera) and the lesion nematode (Praty-lenchus) are common in sugarcane production systems (Mills and Elephantine, 2000; Shoko, 2005; Shoko and Tagwira, 2005). Research done in Australia on Decline in yield venture in sugarcane indicated that nematode population increased with years of continuous sugarcane production (Stirling and Blair, 2001). According to Magarey (1994) annual sugarcane yield losses attributed to nematodes was 0.2% (Australia), 3% in Peru, >5% in South Africa, 6% in USA, 11% in Cote d’Ivoire and 14% in Burkina Faso