Dr. Nancy Ntidi

With a PhD in Environmental Science, Dr. Nancy Ntidi, a nematologist at the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute in Potchefstroom, South Africa, leads a nematode diagnostic laboratory that analyzes soil samples and plant material received from farmers for plant-parasitic nematodes.

Root health is vital for optimizing field crop yields, yet many producers are unaware of their crops' root health status. Conservation farming is known to enhance soil health, but significant room remains for improvement in managing soil-borne pests. Dr. Ntidi’s research focuses on maize, South Africa's most important grain crop. Produced under diverse conditions, maize is essential for food security and farmers' income. However, its production is affected by abiotic and biotic constraints, including nematodes and diseases. Effective pest control, particularly for nematodes, is crucial for boosting maize production.

Nancy's work during her Short Research Stay

For her short research stay, Dr. Nancy Ntidi was hosted by the Nematology Research Unit of UGent under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Wim Bert. Her work focused on nematode identification to assist South African maize producers in sustainably managing soilborne pests and diseases.

Dr. Ntidi performed accurate nematode identification, incorporating molecular methods, to create a distribution map of pests and disease across six provinces. This comprehensive analysis is crucial for developing future management strategies. It includes assessing the host suitability of crops sampled during the survey and tested on cover crops in field rotation trials.

Selected Publications

Ntidi, K. N., Bekker, S., & Fourie, H. (2017). Nematodes of grasses and weeds. In H. Fourie, V. W. Spaull, R. K. Jones, M. S. Daneel, & D. De Waele (Eds.), Nematology in South Africa: A view from the 21st century (pp. 409-418). Springer International, Germany. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44210-5
Ntidi, K. N., Daneel, M. S., & Fourie, H. (2019). The host status of Amaranthus spp. genotypes to Meloidogyne spp. and verification of resistance in genotype Thohoyandou. Crop Protection, 115, 64-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.09.016
Ntidi, K. N., Bronkhorst, L., Fourie, H., & McDonald, A. H. (2014). An audit and host status assessments of plant-parasitic nematodes and weeds in subsistence agriculture with reference to Meloidogyne species. Journal of Nematology, 46(2), 75-260.
Ntidi, K. N., Jansen van Rensburg, W. S., Fourie, D., & McDonald, A. (2013). Host status of indigenous leafy vegetable and weed species to root-knot nematodes. Acta Horticulturae, 1001, 417-423. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1001.61