Nematodes are tiny, thread-like worms measuring 0.0 15 inch to 0.187
inch in length. They are either free living parasitic or saprophytic,
identified on the basis of shapes, size and special structures. The
females become swollen and flask-shaped as a result of accumulation of
eggs with the anus virtually terminal in position, while the males are
vermiform (Sherf and Macnah, 1986; Chitwood, 1949; Taylor and Sasser,
1978; Idowu, 1979 and Idowu, 1983)
Nematodes are known for causing destructive diseases of crops as
they have a wide range of feeding habit, constitute about 80% of all
multicellular animals, attacking nearly every crop that is grown in the
field and as a result crop yields is greatly affected reducing
quantity and quality of crops on field, orchard, home garden and green
houses (Mai, 1985; Symth, 1994; Sasser, 1952). Among the favoured host
in Nigeria as a whole include tomato, yam, tobacco, papaw, citrus and
sweet potato (Sasser, 1954).
1.1 Tomato:
Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)
belongs to the family Solanaceae and subilass polypetalae of the
dicotyledenous group of plants. Tomato is a slight modification of
tomato the name used by the Indians of Mexico, who have grown the plant
for food since prehistoric times. Other names reported by early
European explorers were tomato, tumatle and tomatas, probably variants
of Indian words (Wener, 2004).
1.2 Origin:
The precise origin of tomato remains a mystery but there is reason
to believe that the original tomato came from Peru called tomato, it
was taken to Mexico by migrating Peruvians. It found its way to Italy
through the explorations of Christopher Columbus. Tomatoes were taken
back to Europe along with silver and gold and they were grown on the
continent as a pretty curiosity (Fallagatter, 1999).