Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 2 views

    Root Knot Nematode

    Uploaded by

    Sallu Bhai
    plant pathology

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Root Knot Nematode

    Uploaded by

    Sallu Bhai
    2 views3 pages
    plant pathology

    Original Title

    Root knot nematode

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    plant pathology

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    2 views3 pages

    Root Knot Nematode

    Uploaded by

    Sallu Bhai
    plant pathology

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    ROOT KNOT OF VEGETABLES

    Root knot nematodes, or eel worms, belong to the genus Meloidogyne, which includes
    the following species:

    • M. arenaria
    • M. hapla
    • M. incognita
    • M. javanica.

    They infest a wide range of plants and are the most economically damaging of all the
    nematode species to agricultural crops worldwide. Potatoes are particularly susceptible,
    but only in warm areas. Generally, root knot nematodes are not a major problem in the
    cool production districts. The greatest losses occur where potatoes are grown intensively
    or rotated with other susceptible crops.

    Symptoms

    Infested potato plants may show varying degrees of stunting, yellowing of leaves and a
    tendency to wilt under moisture stress. Roots have swellings or galls, and beads or knots
    (hence the common name). Affected tubers have blisters or swellings. Symptoms are
    most severe when crops are grown on sandy soils and warm climates above 25°C.

    Root knot nematode reduces the quality, size and number of tubers. Infested potatoes
    can become more susceptible to bacterial wilt, which is caused by Ralstonia
    solanacearum. Also, symptoms are more severe when plants are also infected with fungal
    pathogens such as Verticillium and Rhizoctonia.

    Root knot nematode on potato tubers causing a warty appearance


    Biology and Disease Cycle

    Nematodes or eelworms are small (less than 1 mm in length) soil-borne pests which
    attack plant roots. They are the most common multicellular organisms in soil.
    Juvenile nematodes hatch from egg masses (eggs surrounded by a gelatinous layer)
    deposited by females. Juveniles move through the soil to the plant roots where they use
    a needle-like stylet to puncture roots (just behind the root tip) and suck out the cell
    contents. After entering the plant, the juvenile nematodes undergo a series of moults. On
    becoming adults, the males leave the roots while the females stay in the roots and
    continue to feed.

    Invasion and feeding by the female nematode stimulate the host cells to enlarge and
    multiply into giant cells, causing the galls on the roots. Once a female nematode
    establishes a feeding site, her body enlarges and protrudes through the root. After mating,
    she lays eggs in a sticky substance on the outside of her body. Some species of root knot
    nematode can produce eggs without males. In temperate climates, generation time is four
    to six weeks and there are usually three or four generations per year.

    Survival

    Nematodes survive in the soil as egg masses. The gelatinous layer around the egg
    masses provides protection against desiccation and chemicals. Each female produces
    500 to 1000 eggs. Eggs hatch under favourable conditions and juvenile nematodes infest
    roots of potatoes and other host plants.

    Root knot nematodes also survive in the absence of potatoes by infesting alternative
    hosts, including many weed species.

    Few species, except M. hapla, can survive extreme cold.

    Host range

    Potato (Solanum species) and over 2000 other plant species, including many species of
    vegetables and weeds.

    Control

    There are no potato cultivars that are resistant to root knot nematode. Chemical control
    is difficult and may not be economical.

    Use the following methods to control root knot nematode:

    • Monitor crops for symptoms of root knot nematode infestations.


    • Practise good farm hygiene.
    • Avoid planting susceptible crops in paddocks contaminated with root knot
    nematodes.
    • Rotate crops with resistant, immune or non-host crops such as grasses (sudan
    grass) or cereals (barley, rye, wheat) in combination with a weed-free fallow to
    reduce nematode numbers. Many pasture legumes, such as white clover, and the
    common weed fat hen or Chenopodium species, are very susceptible to root knot
    nematode.

    You might also like