Pathogenic potential of Meloidogyne incongita (Race 1) on chickpea

A pot experiment was carried out to find out the pathogenic potential of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Race 1) in chickpea var. PUSA 1103. The nematode was found highly pathogenic to chickpea at the inoculum level of 1000 and 10,000 J2/kg of soil. Significant reduction in plant growth characters viz. shoot-length, shoot-weight, root-length and root-weight was observed as the inoculum level of M. incognita juveniles increased, which were highest in the check and lowest in 10,000 level of J2 inoculum. Significant increase in the root-knot index, number of nematodes in root and final population of root-knot nematode was observed in soil as the inoculation level increased.