Development and biochemical profile of Zingiber officinale under different population densities of Meloidogyne javanica

Abstract

Ginger is a medicinal plant known for its aromatic, antioxidant, and pharmacological properties. This study aimed to examine the vegetative growth and biochemical profile of ginger exposed to Meloidogyne javanica at different initial inoculum levels. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a completely randomized design. Treatments comprised 0, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 10,000 eggs of M. javanica and eight replications per treatment. At 70 days after inoculation, plants were harvested and evaluated for nematode parameters, vegetative growth, total phenolic compounds, gingerol content, antioxidant activity, and soluble sugars content. Total nematode number increased linearly as a function of initial inoculum level. The reproduction factor was greater than one (RF>1) in all treatments. Vegetative development, however, was not affected. The highest concentrations of total phenolics and gingerol were estimated to occur with initial inoculum levels of 4500 and 4000 eggs, respectively. Higher population levels (>6000 eggs) stimulated the production of soluble sugars in ginger rhizomes. Although increasing levels of M. javanica did not affect ginger vegetative development, it significantly altered biochemical parameters, such as total phenolic compounds, gingerol content, antioxidant activity, and soluble sugars content, proving that M. javanica influences the quality of ginger.