Cut flowers ? The new emerging hosts of plant parasitic nematodes

Plant parasitic nematodes are one of the major pests causing damage on most of the cut flowers by reducing their yield both quantitatively and qualitatively not only in India but in many parts of the world. Nematodes belonging to the genera Meloidogyne (root knot), Criconemella (ring), Pratylenchus (lesion), Tylenchorhynchus (stunt), Paratrichodorus (stubby-root), Rotylenchulus (reniform), Helicotylenchus (Spiral), Hoplolaimus indicus (Lance) and Xiphinema (dagger) can cause damage on cut flowers. Often more than one species is found associated with plant’s roots but the effects of mixed populations of nematode species on cut flowers are largely unknown. In general, they cause poor root development with necrotic or galled areas, chlorotic of leaves, stunting growth of plants, foliage bronzing, branch dieback and death of the foliage or premature falling of foliage as well as flowers. The affected plants do not respond properly to fertilization.