Interactive effect of Meloidogyne incognita and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on disease development, plant growth and seed yield of Plantago ovata

An experiment was carried out under pot conditions to determine the effect of Meloidogyne incognita (@ 5000 J2/kg soil) and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (@ 7.5 g mycelial culture/kg soil) alone, concomitant and sequential inoculations on the nematode multiplication, disease development, plant growth and seed yield of Plantago ovata. Results indicated that both the pathogens caused significant reduction in all the plant growth parameters, when plants were inoculated alone as well as in various inoculation sequences. Highest per cent reduction in all the plant growth parameters and seed yield was observed in plant inoculated concomitantly with M. incognita and S. sclerotiorum, followed by M. incognita 7 days prior to S. sclerotiorum, S. sclerotiorum 7 days prior to M. incognita, S. sclerotiorum alone and M. incognita alone, respectively. Similarly, highest multiplication (Rf= 4.21) of M. incognita was found in plants inoculated concomitantly with M. incognita and S. sclerotiorum, followed by M. incognita alone, M. incognita 7 days prior to S. sclerotiorum and S. sclerotiorum 7 days prior to M. incognita, respectively. Highest percent root infection (62.5) by the S. sclerotiorum was observed in plants inoculated concomitantly with M. incognita and S. sclerotiorum, followed by S. sclerotiorum 7 days prior to M. incognita, M. incognita 7 days prior to S. sclerotiorum and S. sclerotiorum alone, respectively.