| dc.description.abstract | This study was undertaken to determine whether
nematode destroying fungi can be used as indicators of
soil disturbances. 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 and
identified. The species identified were, Acrostalagums
obovatus, Arthrobotrys dactyloides, Arthrobotrys
oligospora, Arthrobotrys superba, Dactyllela lobata,
Haptoglosa heterospora, Harposporium anguillulae,
Harposporium.sp, Monacrosporium cionopagum and
Nematoctonous georgenious. Occurrence of nematode
destroying fungi was significantly (P = 3.81 x 10 -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. Soil disturbance accounted for the
highest occurrence of nematode destroying fungi
(60.77 %) while moisture, accounted for 23.35%.
Fungal isolates from vegetable gardens were most
diverse while soils from the forest were most even
with least diversity. The total richness of nematode
destroying fungi was nine, seven, six, and three in
maize bean, napier, shrub and forest habitats
respectively. This study has established that nematode
destroying fungi increases with increased land
disturbance | en |
