Citrus nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans (Cobb, 1913), is the most concerned nematode pest of lemons, inflicting significant losses in India due to adequate soil and environmental conditions. T. semipenetrans causes a slow decline disease in citrus. Considering the economic importance, an eco-friendly management investigation has been conducted on Tylenchulus semipenetrans, which infects lemon. Vermicompost fortified with bio-agents viz., Glomus fasciculatum, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Metarhizium anisopliae at 5 kg bio-agents in100 kg vermicompost were used at two different doses i.e.5 g/kg soil and 10 g/kg soil alongwith an untreated check. All the treatments were replicated three times in completely randomized design. Initial nematode population was kept 500 juveniles/ 200 cc soil. Results exhibited that all the treatments found significantly superior over untreated control in promoting the plant vigour as well as decreasing the citrus nematode population. Maximum reduction in nematode parameters that is number of females/ 5 g roots (53.00), number of egg mass/5 g roots (33.33), number of eggs & larvae/egg mass (30.00) and final population/200 cc soil (316.67) with per cent decrease observed to be 66.67%, 74.68%, 41.17% and 69.50%, respectively with the application of P. lilacinum enriched vermicompostat 10.00 g/kg soil followed by G. fasciculatum at the rate10.00 g/kg soil and M. anisopliae at 10.00 g/kg soil. Experimental results advocated that these eco-friendly management options may be employed in place of pesticides against citrus nematode, T. semipenetrans on lemon to promote organic and economical cultivation of lemon

Citrus nematode, Eco-friendly management, Bio-agent, Lemon.

Results of present investigation exhibited that all the treatments found significantly superior over untreated control in promoting the plant vigour as well as to decrease the infection of citrus nematode on Lemon. Maximum reduction in nematode parameters recorded with the application of P. lilacinum enriched vermicompost@10.00 g/kg soil followed by G. fasciculatum @10.00 g/kg soil and M. anisopliae @10.00 g/kg soil. Experimental results clearly showed that these eco-friendly management options may be employed against citrus nematode, T. semipenetrans on lemon to enhance plant growth as well as to promote eco-friendly and economical cultivation of lemon

Mukesh Jaiman, B. L. Baheti, M.K. Sharma, N.L. Meena and S.S. Lakhawat (2024). Eco-friendly Management of Citrus Nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans Cobb.) Infecting Lemon (Citrus limon L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(6): 116-121.