Pathogenicity of root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on okra and its management through botanicals

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the pathogenicity of root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on okra and its management through various organic amendments. The inoculum level of 1000 juveniles per plant showed significant reduction in various plant growth parameters, which reveals that M. incognita is a potential pathogen of okra. With the increase in inoculums level of M. incognita (J2), there was a progressive decrease in various plant growth parameters. The maximum reduction in plant growth parameters was observed at an inoculum level of 4000 juveniles per plant. The efficacy of five organic amendments viz. groundnut cake, castor cake, sunflower cake, linseed cake and sawdust was tested against root knot nematode M. incognita. Amending the soil with different oil cakes was found to be effective in reducing the nematode soil population, number of females, number of egg masses as well as root gall formation in okra. The highest increase in plant growth (13%) and maximum reduction in number of galls (54%), number of females (57%) and number of egg masses (55%) was recorded on application of groundnut cake.