Bitter gourd is very important and healthy vegetable crop worldwide. Bitter gourd is greatly affected by several biotic factors and abiotic factors. Among biotic factors fungi, bacteria, insect pests and nematodes cause a heavy loss in quantity and quality of fruits. Among plant parasitic nematode, root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is the most widely distributed and the destructive nematode. It is considered as one of the major limiting factors in the production of bitter gourd. Due to heavy losses incurred by these ting organisms, it become a tough task to manage them economically. Owing to adverse impacts of chemicals on human health, there is need of some ecofriendly methods of nematode management. Biological nematode control in relation to crop production system is a subject of considerable current interest, because of a perceived urgency to develop and adopt safe, economic and efficient method for managing nematode pest of crops. During present investigation, vermicompost enriched with bio-agents viz., Beauveria bassiana, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Metarhizium anisopliae were tested as soil treatment @ 2.5 g, 5 g and 10 g/plant for the management of M. incognita on bitter gourd. Results showed that P. lilacinum @ 10 g/plant was found most effective followed by Beauveria bassiana @ 10 g/plant and Metarhizium anisopliae @ 10 g/plant which enhanced the plant growth parameters of bitter gourd and also reduced the nematode multiplication factors.

Beauveria bassiana, Bio-agents, Bitter gourd, Meloidogyne incognita, Metarhizium anisopliae, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Vermicompost.

Utilization of eco-friendly techniques is a trending current issue and for future research. Due to the wide versatility of this area and synergistic or additive effect with other agricultural inputs, it can be included in eco-friendly management approach. Present investigation focuses on the use of bio-agents and organic amendments in sustainable agriculture system and opens vistas for the use of bio-nematicides which are promising as well as ecologically sound and safe. Hence, efforts in discovering new non-chemical or eco-friendly strategies for nematode management should be continued to overcome future challenges too.

Javed Khan, B. L. Baheti, H.K. Sharma, H.L. Bairwa, Arvind Verma and C.P. Nama (2023). An Eco-friendly Management option against root-knot nematode, (Meloidogyne incognita) infecting Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(12): 45-52.