Impact of sequential and concurrent inoculations of Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum on the growth performance of diverse okra cultivars

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The present study was conducted to assess the effects of inoculation methods viz. concurrent and sequential inoculations of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, and the wilt-causing fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum, on various growth parameters of nine okra cultivars. The study aimed to identify cultivars that exhibited robust growth parameters in response to these two pathogens. Significant disparities were found in shoot lengths among cultivars and inoculation methods (F=1033.86, P0.001), with Arka Anamika, Irka-1, and Irka-2 experiencing the most considerable reductions. In contrast, Pusa Swami and Green Star had the least reduction across all inoculation treatments. Sequential inoculation led to shoot length reductions ranging from 76.00% to 90.25%, averaging 87.07%. Concurrent inoculation resulted in reductions between 82.50% and 95.98%, averaging 90.29%. For nematode inoculation followed by fungus after 15 days, the reductions ranged from 81.74% to 95.34%, with an average of 89.21%. Regarding root length, concurrent inoculation generally had a less detrimental effect on root lengths compared to sequential inoculation. The reduction in root length varied from 0.01% to 24.72%, with concurrent inoculation showing less reduction than sequential methods. Similarly, concurrent inoculation typically resulted in lesser reductions in shoot weights compared to sequential inoculations, with reductions ranging widely among cultivars. Unlike shoot weight, concurrent inoculation did not consistently increase root weight compared to sequential methods. In conclusion, the study suggests that concurrent inoculation of M. incognita and F. oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum is less harmful to the growth parameters of okra cultivars than sequential inoculation, with some variations among specific cultivars.