Pathogenicity and Reproductive Potential of Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita on Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus spp.)

Author: Prasanna Holajjer, Bhaskar Bajaru, B. Parameswari, N. Sivaraj, M. Srinivas Rao and K. Anitha

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Abstract

The effect of different initial population density of root-knot nematode and damage they cause to the plants (in terms of root-galling) in dragon fruit, and nematode multiplication rate in soil was studied. The initial population density of nematodes (200, 500, 1000 and 2000 J2s/ 200 cm3 soil) caused significant number of galls on the dragon fruit root system after 90 days of inoculation. Significantly higher numbers of galls (85.00/plant) were observed in the initial population density of 2000 J2s/200 cm3 soil compared to 52.50 galls/plant in initial population density of 200 J2s/200 cm3 soil. Higher multiplication rate (8.77-fold increase) was observed at the initial population density of 500 J2s/200 cm3 soil. The present study clearly indicated association of M. incognita with dragon fruit is pathogenic as significant number of galls/egg masses and high nematode population density in soil was observed at initial population density of 500 J2s/200 cm3 soil.

Keywords

Meloidogyne incognita, dragon fruit, pathogenicity, multiplication

Conclusion

The M. incognita is an obligate plant parasite responsible for reduction in fruit-yield in several fruit crops. The present study clearly indicated association of M. incognita with dragon fruit is pathogenic as significant number of galls/egg masses and high soil nematode population observed at initial population density of 500 J2s/200 cm3 soil. Further studies on survey and surveillance of root-knot nematodes in dragon fruit fields, symptomatology and losses caused by nematodes will greatly help in understanding the nematode behavior in dragon fruit and timely implementation of nematode management strategies.

References

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.), also known as pitahaya, is an important fruit crop mainly used for table consumption, medicinal and industrial uses (Le Bellec and Vaillant, 2011). In India, it is cultivated in an area of about 3,084.6 ha in several states with production of approximately 12,113.4 tonnes of fruit every year (Wakchaure et al., 2021). Climate suitable regions for cultivation of dragon fruit in India were assessed by Srinivas Rao et al. (2021). Several fungal, bacterial and viral diseases are reported to attack the dragon fruit and affect both quality and quantity of the produce (Balendres and Bengoa, 2019). Diseases of dragon fruit, their etiology and current management options were reviewed by Balendres and Bengoa (2019) and reported recent increase in incidence of diseases worldwide. Monitoring of new and emerging pathogens is necessary due to the increase in cultivation of dragon fruit. Very little information is available with respect to damage caused by plant paras

How to cite this article

Prasanna Holajjer, Bhaskar Bajaru, B. Parameswari, N. Sivaraj, M. Srinivas Rao and K. Anitha (2022). Pathogenicity and Reproductive Potential of Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita on Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus spp.). Biological Forum – An Internati