NEW HOST RECORDS OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE (MELOIDOGYNE SPP.) IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

During a survey of cultivated ornamental plants in the nurseries, park, greenhouse and gardens in different localities of Karachi several host plants of root-knot nematode were encountered. Diseased plants showed symptoms of yellowish and stunted growth. Soil and root samples collected showed the presence of two common root-knot nematode species, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 and M. javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood, 1949. Gall index (GI) and eggmass index (EMI) were rated on 0-5 scale (Taylor & Sasser, 1978). Characteristics of the perineal patterns of mature females of root-knot nematode dissected out from galls were used for identification of M. javanica on Alyssum (Lobularia martima L.) Desv., which is reported for the first time. Of the 19 root-knot host plants (Table 1) which have not been described in the lists given by Kafi (1963), Gul & Saeed (1987), Maqbool et al., (1988) and Zarina & Maqbool (1989), 9 hosts of M. javanica, 3 of M. incognita and 7 for both M. incognita and M. javanica are new host records in Pakistan