Biocontrol of root-knot nematode by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Luffa cylindrica

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of arbuscular myconhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus spp. and Gigaspora spp.) as bioprotectant agamst root-knot nematode Meloidogvne incognita in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem.), myconhizal plant of family Cucurbitaceae. All parameters were estimated in roots, shoot and leaves of myconhizal and non myconhizal plants. Physical/biochemical and carbon profile were taken into account. Comparatlve study clearly indicates the sigmficant variations in all parameters. Leaf area and plant height were Increased in myconhizal plants than non-myconhizal, while it showed a shall) decrease in nematode Infected plants, same plants also showed less water content due to xylem vessels damage. However, in myconhizal plants, roots had large amount of carbohydrates indicating transfer of photosynthates to fungal partner. Nematode infected roots have least amount of carbohydrates showing a great sink of carbon to rhizosphere.