Lehli (Convolvulus arvensis) weed, a new alternate host of Meloidogyne incognita in Pakistan

Abstract

In a field trial at area of Vegetable Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad in 2011, a new host of root- knot nematode (RKN) was recorded. Moderate galls on the roots of Convolvulus arvensis were observed due to RKN infestation. Under the stereoscopic microscope mature whitish pear shaped females were isolated from the roots of C. arvensis. By using perineal pattern technique (Eisenback et al., 1981), a most common and abundant species of root-knot nematode M. incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 was identified from the host. The perineal pattern of M. incognita comprises a distinct dorsal arch composed of smooth to wavy lines and no lateral incisures. This new record of M. incognita has not been hitherto reported in Pakistan (Zarina & Maqbool, 1991; Maqbool & Shahina, 2001; Khanzada & Khan, 2003; Zarina, 2004; Khan et al., 2005; Erum et al., 2005; Shahid et al., 2006, 2007, 2008; Shahina et al., 2009).