Genotypic Diversity of Potato Germplasm against Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) Infection in Pakistan

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum), an important vegetable crop of Pakistan endures significant yield losses due to root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita).. Research wok was designed to identify resistant potato germplasm against RKN (Meloidogyne incognita) infection. A field trial was conducted in the research area of Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Thirty six (36) potato verities/ cultivars relocated five times were sown in four years sick plot containing root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in RCBD layout. Root knot nematode reproduction and host damage was accessed by recording nematode root galls and egg mass indices, root weight, shoot weight, , number of leaves, fruit weight, rate of reproduction and final population of nematodes. Experiment revealed a considerable variation in response against Meloidogyne incognita infection among the genotype tested but none of the single cultivar was immune. FD-8-1 was used as negative control. The cultivar FD-19-2 was highly susceptible followed by SH-692 and SH-5. All other cultivars had less galling index with low fecundity rate indicating their ability to suppress the adult female reproduction. The cultivar FD-1-3 scored least number of galls and egg mass indices followed by FD-49-62, SH-339 and SH-332.