A southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) first reported on cucumber in Manipur

Abstract

Root-knot nematode is one of the major pest of vegetable crops that produces root galls in the infected roots, seriously reducing the farmer’s produce. According to statistics, phyto-parasitic nematodes affect 12.3% of the world’s major crops each year, resulting in yield losses. Most common species of root-knot nematodes have been reported to be vulnerable to cucumber and they can reduce productivity by up to 60% in protected commercial farming. Till now, there was no report of root knot nematode affecting cucumber in the state of Manipur (India). In 2021, an extensive investigation was conducted in each block of Kakching district, Manipur to observe for the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) infecting the cucumber crop of that area based on morphological characteristic symptoms of the infected plant. The root samples forming galls and soil were collected for confirmatory studies at the laboratory. For the first time, it was discovered during the study that the cucumber crop was infested by the Meloidogyne spp. showing the general symptoms like water and nutrient stress, yellowing of leaves, stunted growth, wilting of infested plants and patchiness of plants in the infested field, together with the typical symptoms of gall formation in the root system. According to morphological investigations, the southern root-knot nematode (M. incognita) was found to be responsible for the infestation of the cucumber plant sample taken from a farmer’s field in the Kakching district of Manipur.