Effect of various physico-chemical factors on the incidence of root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. infesting tomato in District Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) India

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes, (Meloidogyne spp.) are main pathogens of tomato in India. A survey was undertaken to find out the effect of physico-chemical properties of soil on the incidence and infestation of two root-knot nematode species namely Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita on tomato growing fields in Aligarh. Maximum disease frequency (87.5%) was found in Shah Jamal and Mahraval and minimum (25%) was found in Chherat Sudhal. Population density of Meloidogyne spp. was found to be the highest (750 J2 100 cmG-3) in Mahraval while as the lowest (170 J2 100 cmG3 in Chherat Sudhal. The highest nematode population observed in Mahraval having greater nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium with somewhat higher moisture content in the sandy loamy type of soil. Least nematode population was observed in Chherat Sudhal with least nitrogen, phosphorous and moisture content. Analysis of correlation coefficient showed that population of Meloidogyne spp. had significantly positive correlation with sand percentage, soil moisture, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium while negative correlation with the silt, clay, soil temperature and soil pH at (p#0.01). A total of 59 (61.45%) samples out of 96 were found infested with root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. showing 83 and 75% distribution of M. javanica and M. incognita.