Community Analysis of Plant Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Agriculture and Horticulture Crops in Erode District of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Community analysis of plant parasitic nematodes is an important criterion to determine their pathogenic potential in a particular region and to identify the nematode hotspots. This investigation involves the analysis of distribution, frequency and population of plant parasitic nematode genera associated with the rhizosphere of maize, tomato, mulberry, banana and sugarcane grown in Erode district, Tamil Nadu. Nematode genera viz., Tylenchorhynchus spp., Pratylenchus spp., Meloidogyne spp., Helicotylenchus spp., Hoplolaimus spp., Criconemoides spp., Helicotylenchus spp., Xiphinema spp. and Longidorus spp. were recorded in the rhizosphere region of these crops. Assessment of community structure of plant parasitic nematodes associated with the above mentioned crops revealed variation in their frequency, density and diversity. In maize, Longidorus spp. was reported the predominant genus with the absolute frequency value of 100% and the prominence value of 2.87. Meloidogyne spp. was the most prevalent nematode in tomatoes, with an absolute frequency of 72.72% and prominence value of 6.29. Xiphinema spp. was the more frequently occurring nematode in mulberry, with the absolute frequency of 100% and prominence value of 21.06. In sugarcane, Hoplolaimus spp. was the most commonly occurring nematode with an absolute frequency of 90.90%. Pratylenchus spp. ranked highest in terms of density (absolute and relative) and prominence value in Banana.