Nematode pest of Tomato
Root knot nematode : Meloidogyne incognita
- Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita which causes 11-35 % yield loss in Tomato. It can be spread through seedlings, planting materials, irrigation water and farm implements.
Symptoms
Above ground symptoms
- Stunted growth of the plants
- Disease appearance in patches under field conditions.
- Leaves show dwarfing, chlorosis, yellowing and retardation of growth.
- Plants show “Day wilting” symptoms.
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Below ground symptoms
- Primary galls are small which coalesce to form larger secondary galls.
- Root system is reduced, severely galled and completely disorganized vascular system.
- Sometimes the galled tissues are invaded by secondary pathogens and causes root decay.
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| Infected root of watermelon |
Root knot affected tomato plants |
Infected root portion |
| Root Knot Nematode affected chilli plants and roots |
Management
- Nursery beds raised in nematode free soil and use nematode free planting materials.
- Soil solarization in nursery beds with white or transparent sheet LLDPE 25 gauge thickness during summer month.
- Nursery application of AM fungus @ 100g/m2
- Removal and distraction of nematode affected roots of the previous crop.
- Deep summer ploughing of field.
- Application of neem cake @ 250 kg/ha.
- Crop rotation with non-host crops like mustard, sesame, maize, wheat and millets.
- Soil application of talc based formulation of Purpureocillium lilacinum @ 2.5 kg/ ha along with 250kg of FYM.
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