Effect of inoculum density of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on damage potential in eggplant
Abstract
Many crops including eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) are attacked by root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood] resulting in heavy yield losses. Losses caused by nematodes are influenced by inoculum levels. In the present study, the effect of three inoculum levels of M. incognita [500, 1000 and 2000 second stage juveniles (J2s) per kilogram of soil] was tested against eggplant cv. Pusa purple long. All the inoculum levels affected differently various growth parameters of eggplant. Minimum reduction in growth parameters was recorded at a level of 500 J2s while maximum reduction was obtained at an inoculum level of 2000 J2s. Reduction in different growth parameters viz. root length, shoot length, shoot weight and increase in root weight and number of galls at three inoculum levels was found to be directly proportional to the latter. On the other hand, reproductive factor was found inversely proportional to inoculum levels.
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