Studies on Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) of Tomato Crop

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the world’s best-selling vegetables. It is a self-pollinating crop, having diploid chromosome number 24 which belongs to the family Solanaceae. It is originated from Peru and found in both temperate and tropical regions. It is also called as “poor man’s orange”. The root-knot nematode on tomato was first reported in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The crop losses of tomatoes are very high 35-40 % due to nematodes. In present study different chemicals viz., Nimitz, Velum prime and Fipronil & bioagents viz., Trichoderma S13, Trichoderma S7 and Paecilomyces lilacinus were tested against root knot nematode under pot condition and in vitro condition. Seedling treatment method was followed for application of chemicals & bioagents at different concentrations and different application for seedling root dip method. At 1 hour minimum 15.33 and 11.53 galls/plant, maximum root length 17.00 and 15.67 cm and maximum shoot length 38.00 and 32.00 cm was recorded in T4 velum prime. At 2 hours minimum 4.0 and 2.0 galls/plant, maximum root length 16.67 and 12.00 cm and maximum shoot length 30.00 and 29.50 cm was recorded in T5 velum prime. At 3 hours none galls/plant were recorded in T6 velum prime and maximum 3.67 and 1.56 galls/plant recorded in T9 fipronil at 0.2 and 0.5 % respectively. Maximum root length 10.00 and 7.67 cm, maximum shoot length 22.00 and 19.00 cm and maximum fresh root weight 2.83 and 2.50 g was recorded in T6 velum prime at 0.2 and 0.5 % respectively. At 1 hour minimum 21.00 and 18.00 galls/plant were recorded in T1 Trichoderma isolate S-13, maximum root length 15.33 and 21.67 cm, maximum shoot length 30.67 and 36.30 cm and maximum fresh root weight 6.70 and 7.30 g was recorded in T1 Trichoderma isolate S-13. At 2 hours minimum 13.67 and 11.00 galls/plant, maximum root length 16.00 and 23.33 cm, maximum shoot length 31.00 and 36.00 cm and maximum fresh root weight 6.67 and 8.67 g was recorded in T2 Trichoderma isolate S-13 at 0.2 and 0.5 % respectively. At 3 hours minimum 8.33 and 7.33 galls/plant, maximum root length 16.70 and 23.67 cm, maximum shoot length 32.33 and 37.20 cm and maximum fresh root weight 6.93 and 8.90 g was recorded in T3 Trichoderma isolate S 13 in 45 DAT at 5 and 10 % respectively. At 72 hours, maximum larval mortality 93.50% was recorded in velum prime @ 0.02 % followed by 85.0, 80.0, 35.0, 25.0 and 20 % in Nimitz @ 0.02 %, fipronil @ 0.02 %, Trichoderma isolates-13 @ 10 %, Trichoderma isolates-7 @ 10% and Paecilomyces lilacinus @ 10 % respectively. In case of egg hatching at 72 hours, minimum 6.50 % egg hatching was recorded in velum prime @ 0.02 % followed by 8.5, 10.0, 65.0,70.0, 71.5 and 73.5 % in Nimitz @ 0.02 %, fipronil @ 0.02 %, Trichoderma isolates-13 @ 10 %, Trichoderma isolates-7 @ 10%, Paecilomyces lilacinus @ 10% and Bacillus subtilis @ 10% respectively.