The pathogenicity of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita was studied on capsicum in pots under protected cultivation during 2022-23 and 2023-24. Five inoculum levels (0, 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000) were tested to assess their impact on plant growth and nematode reproduction. Results showed that nematode population in root, soil and total nematode population increased proportionally with higher inoculum levels. A significant reduction in plant height and fresh shoot weight was observed even at the lowest inoculum level of 10 J2 per plant, which was identified as the critical damaging threshold. Conversely, nematode reproduction rate declined as inoculum levels increased with the highest reproduction rate recorded at 10 J2/plant and lowest at 10,000 J2/plant. These findings highlight the severity of M. incognita infection in capsicum and emphasized the need for effective nematode management strategies under protected cultivation

Capsicum, pathogenicity, protected cultivation, root-knot nematode

Pathogenicity trials were conducted to determine the threshold or damaging inoculum level of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in capsicum. The results revealed that an inoculum level of 10 J2/plant was the critical damaging level for M. incognita in capsicum. Nematode infection significantly impacted plant growth parameters, including plant height and fresh shoot weight. Additionally, nematode multiplication i.e. root-knot index and final nematode population/plant indicated an increased reproduction rate with decreased inoculum levels

Anjana B. Prajapati, R.K. Thumar, Ajay Kumar Maru and Mayuri Y. Patel (2025). Pathogenicity of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita Infecting Capsicum under Protected Cultivation. Biological Forum, 17(4): 28-32