STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENICITY OF MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA AND ROTYLENCHULUS RENIFORMIS ON COWPEA (VIGNA UNVUICULATA) VAR. PUSA BARSATI

Abstract

There was a progressive decrease in plant growth of cowpea with increased inoculum level of Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne incognita. Significant reduction in plant growth and nodulation in comparison to uninoculated check plants was observed at an initial level of 1000 nematodes or above per kg soil which is considered here as the damaging threshold. Development of nodules on galls and galls on nodules was observed infrequently. The rate of multiplication of each nematode species was highest at the lowest and lowest at the highest initial inoculum level.Meloidogyne incognita was a more aggressive pathogen than R. reniformis.