First Report on the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii (Yang and Eisenback, 1988) Infecting Guava (Psidium guajava) in Udham Singh Nagar of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Guava orchards of Uttarakhand were facing sudden decline and tested root samples revealed the incidence of root knot nematode. The nematode infested plant manifested a drastic reduction in plant growth, absence of fine roots, a poorly developed root system, and a decline in yield quality and quantity. Severely infested plant shows small leaves, leaf browning, leaf drop, growth inhibition whereas roots are distorted by small and large multiple galls leading to sudden death of tree. The infected seedlings were accompanied by severely galled roots, possibly attributable to root-knot nematodes. Uttarakhand is reported for the first time with incidence of decline in growth of guava caused by the nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii. Collected root samples of infected guava plant and isolated mature females were observed and studied. The perineal patterns of most specimens were similar to those in the original description of Meloidogyne enterolobii.