Microenvironmental alteration by the use of some plants for the effective control of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) on brinjal

Abstract

Eggplant is a tropical perennial plant often cultivated in temperate regions. It has significantly high nutritive values as well. Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is one of the major plant pathogens which causes huge losses in brinjal. The management of nematodes is mainly relied on synthetic nematicides which are hazardous. The current studies were, therefore, carried out to determine the effect of different leaves as soil amendments on the growth of brinjal. The soil was amended with leaves of Azadirachta indica, Calotropis procera, Tagetes erecta and Datura stramonium in concentrations of 25, 50 and 75 g/kg. The maximum increase in these parameters was recorded at the concentration of 75 g/kg of the soil. However, the amendment at 25 g/kg of the soil was the least effective. Similarly, an increase in these parameters was found to be higher at higher concentration of the amendments. A direct relationship was observed between the concentrations of the amendments and these parameters. A. indica and C. procera caused maximum reductions in number of galls and reproduction factor of the nematode resulting in the improvement of various growth parameters. It is concluded from the present studies that the amendments with antagonistic plants could be the possible replacement for synthetic nematicides