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Defense Mechanisms of Sweet Potato Varieties (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam]) Enhanced by Neem Seed Extract Against Root-knot Nematodes and Fusarium Wilt

Received: 8 April 2025     Accepted: 21 April 2025     Published: 26 May 2025
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Abstract

Sweet potato crops are severely threatened by nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne spp. and Fusarium sp. fungi, which are responsible for Fusarium wilt. Nematodes cause root and tuber deformities, as well as wilting of stems and leaves, while Fusarium wilt leads to rot, necrosis, and wilting. These two pests contribute to a significant reduction in yields and substantial losses of production. Control measures primarily rely on the use of chemicals, whose excessive use poses a threat to the environment and human health. This study aims to assess the tolerance of four sweet potato varieties treated with aqueous neem seed extract against combined attacks from nematodes and Fusarium spp. A completely randomized block design with four sweet potato varieties (V1: white variety from the center region (togologo); V2: white variety from Adamawa region (lambadidi); V3: Improved Yellow variety (IRAD 1112); V4: Yellow variety from the center region (Bété)) and four treatments (T0: non-inoculated varieties; T1: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium; T2: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium then treated with neem aqueous extract; T3: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium then treated with synthetic pesticides) was used in a greenhouse. Agro-morphological, epidemiological parameters, and biochemical resistance markers were evaluated. The results revealed that treatment with neem extract (T2) reduced severity rates by 60 to 80% in the different growing bags compared to treatment (T0), followed by treatment (T3). The highest yields were obtained in treatments T1 and T2 across all varieties. The Adamawa White variety (lambadidi) (V2) and the IRAD 1112 variety (V3) exhibited the highest yields with up to 7 t/ha in T3 treatment. The content of phenolic compounds, proteins, and the enzymatic activity of peroxidase were higher in sweet potato plants inoculated with Fusarium and treated with neem aqueous extract. Neem treatment showed strong protective potential in combating fungal diseases and nematodes affecting sweet potato.

Published in Journal of Plant Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12
Page(s) 98-111
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sweet Potato Disease, Neem Aqueous Extract, Fusarium sp., Meloidogyne spp., Biochemical Markers

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ndja’a, B. B. T., Dida, S. L. L., Ngatsi, P. Z., Kuate, W. N. T., Meguekam, L. T., et al. (2025). Defense Mechanisms of Sweet Potato Varieties (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam]) Enhanced by Neem Seed Extract Against Root-knot Nematodes and Fusarium Wilt. Journal of Plant Sciences, 13(3), 98-111. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12

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    ACS Style

    Ndja’a, B. B. T.; Dida, S. L. L.; Ngatsi, P. Z.; Kuate, W. N. T.; Meguekam, L. T., et al. Defense Mechanisms of Sweet Potato Varieties (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam]) Enhanced by Neem Seed Extract Against Root-knot Nematodes and Fusarium Wilt. J. Plant Sci. 2025, 13(3), 98-111. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12

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    AMA Style

    Ndja’a BBT, Dida SLL, Ngatsi PZ, Kuate WNT, Meguekam LT, et al. Defense Mechanisms of Sweet Potato Varieties (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam]) Enhanced by Neem Seed Extract Against Root-knot Nematodes and Fusarium Wilt. J Plant Sci. 2025;13(3):98-111. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12,
      author = {Behly Bertha Tanekou Ndja’a and Sylvere Landry Lontsi Dida and Patrice Zemko Ngatsi and William Norbert Tueguem Kuate and Liliane Tekam Meguekam and Emmanuel Youmbi},
      title = {Defense Mechanisms of Sweet Potato Varieties (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam]) Enhanced by Neem Seed Extract Against Root-knot Nematodes and Fusarium Wilt
    },
      journal = {Journal of Plant Sciences},
      volume = {13},
      number = {3},
      pages = {98-111},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jps.20251303.12},
      abstract = {Sweet potato crops are severely threatened by nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne spp. and Fusarium sp. fungi, which are responsible for Fusarium wilt. Nematodes cause root and tuber deformities, as well as wilting of stems and leaves, while Fusarium wilt leads to rot, necrosis, and wilting. These two pests contribute to a significant reduction in yields and substantial losses of production. Control measures primarily rely on the use of chemicals, whose excessive use poses a threat to the environment and human health. This study aims to assess the tolerance of four sweet potato varieties treated with aqueous neem seed extract against combined attacks from nematodes and Fusarium spp. A completely randomized block design with four sweet potato varieties (V1: white variety from the center region (togologo); V2: white variety from Adamawa region (lambadidi); V3: Improved Yellow variety (IRAD 1112); V4: Yellow variety from the center region (Bété)) and four treatments (T0: non-inoculated varieties; T1: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium; T2: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium then treated with neem aqueous extract; T3: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium then treated with synthetic pesticides) was used in a greenhouse. Agro-morphological, epidemiological parameters, and biochemical resistance markers were evaluated. The results revealed that treatment with neem extract (T2) reduced severity rates by 60 to 80% in the different growing bags compared to treatment (T0), followed by treatment (T3). The highest yields were obtained in treatments T1 and T2 across all varieties. The Adamawa White variety (lambadidi) (V2) and the IRAD 1112 variety (V3) exhibited the highest yields with up to 7 t/ha in T3 treatment. The content of phenolic compounds, proteins, and the enzymatic activity of peroxidase were higher in sweet potato plants inoculated with Fusarium and treated with neem aqueous extract. Neem treatment showed strong protective potential in combating fungal diseases and nematodes affecting sweet potato.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Defense Mechanisms of Sweet Potato Varieties (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam]) Enhanced by Neem Seed Extract Against Root-knot Nematodes and Fusarium Wilt
    
    AU  - Behly Bertha Tanekou Ndja’a
    AU  - Sylvere Landry Lontsi Dida
    AU  - Patrice Zemko Ngatsi
    AU  - William Norbert Tueguem Kuate
    AU  - Liliane Tekam Meguekam
    AU  - Emmanuel Youmbi
    Y1  - 2025/05/26
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12
    T2  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    SP  - 98
    EP  - 111
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2331-0731
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20251303.12
    AB  - Sweet potato crops are severely threatened by nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne spp. and Fusarium sp. fungi, which are responsible for Fusarium wilt. Nematodes cause root and tuber deformities, as well as wilting of stems and leaves, while Fusarium wilt leads to rot, necrosis, and wilting. These two pests contribute to a significant reduction in yields and substantial losses of production. Control measures primarily rely on the use of chemicals, whose excessive use poses a threat to the environment and human health. This study aims to assess the tolerance of four sweet potato varieties treated with aqueous neem seed extract against combined attacks from nematodes and Fusarium spp. A completely randomized block design with four sweet potato varieties (V1: white variety from the center region (togologo); V2: white variety from Adamawa region (lambadidi); V3: Improved Yellow variety (IRAD 1112); V4: Yellow variety from the center region (Bété)) and four treatments (T0: non-inoculated varieties; T1: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium; T2: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium then treated with neem aqueous extract; T3: varieties inoculated with nematodes + Fusarium then treated with synthetic pesticides) was used in a greenhouse. Agro-morphological, epidemiological parameters, and biochemical resistance markers were evaluated. The results revealed that treatment with neem extract (T2) reduced severity rates by 60 to 80% in the different growing bags compared to treatment (T0), followed by treatment (T3). The highest yields were obtained in treatments T1 and T2 across all varieties. The Adamawa White variety (lambadidi) (V2) and the IRAD 1112 variety (V3) exhibited the highest yields with up to 7 t/ha in T3 treatment. The content of phenolic compounds, proteins, and the enzymatic activity of peroxidase were higher in sweet potato plants inoculated with Fusarium and treated with neem aqueous extract. Neem treatment showed strong protective potential in combating fungal diseases and nematodes affecting sweet potato.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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