Survey and Identification of Root-Knot Nematodes Associated with Brinjal Crops in Fatehabad, Agra

Abstract

A survey was conducted over a period of one and half year to estimate the occurrence of root-knot nematode disease on brinjal crops in five selected localities in and around Fatehabad, Agra. Our survey indicates that brinjal crops grown in the selected localities were heavily infested with root-knot nematodes. Highest frequency of disease occurrence in which almost all the roots have knot-like appearance (>85%) was reported from Firozabad Road area. Other localities were also having the significant infestations and these were reported as 80%, 78%, 65%,62% respectively. To access the damage caused by root-knot nematodes in brinjal crop, Meloidogyne gall index and its egg-mass index were calculated and these were found in the range of 2-5. An increased gall index and egg-mass index point to heavy infection on selected crops. Sampled crop showed the significant presence of Meloidogyne javanica. However, there were other species of root-knot nematode as mixed population was also reported. Other species of the root-knot nematodes which were reported in this survey was M. incognita. This survey indicates that the M. javanica is a frequently occurring population in brinjal field infested with root-knot disease.