Abstract

Grain farming in Africa, especial in Sub-Saharan Africa is facing the combined effects of abiotic (including drought and poor crop management technology) and biotic (fungal diseases and pests) stresses. Among these, the cereal cyst nematodes (CCNs) (Heterodera spp.), root-knot nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp.) and root-lesion nematodes (RLN) (Pratylenchus spp.) are the main limiting factor for grain production and are considered as economically important for wheat worldwide and major facilitators of fungal infections such as fusarium species. Loses of cereals as a results of plantparasitic nematodes (PPNs) are estimated up to 6.9 to 50% ($US 125 billions) worldwide. The damage caused by these PPNs, their behaviour and control have received little attention in many African countries, especially Sub-Saharan African, in spite of indications by other countries that productivity of grains can be severely reduced.