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Assessment of Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) Associated with Grapevines in the Pothohar Region of Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKN), particularly Meloidogyne spp., are major soil-borne pests that cause substantial damage to grapevines worldwide. A survey was conducted to determine the incidence, prevalence, species composition, and severity of RKN infestation in grape orchards across the Pothohar region of Pakistan. The study revealed an overall prevalence of 60.35% and an incidence of 19.9% in the surveyed orchards. Among the four districts, Rawalpindi exhibited the highest prevalence (74.28%) and incidence (21.90%), whereas Jhelum showed the lowest prevalence (31.42%) and incidence (9.52%). Seven grapevine varieties were recorded during the survey. Among these, NARC Black showed the highest prevalence (87.5%) and incidence (30.83%) of RKN infestation, whereas Sughra One and Flame Seedless exhibited the lowest prevalence (35%) and incidence (≤10%), respectively. Two species, Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica, were identified, with M. javanica being the dominant species in most districts, except in Jhelum where M. incognita predominated. Sole infestations of M. incognita and M. javanica were recorded in 36.5% and 43.25% of orchards, respectively, while mixed populations occurred in 20.25% of infested orchards. The highest galling index among varieties (2.5) was recorded for NARC Black in Rawalpindi, whereas the lowest (0.5) occurred in Flame Seedless in Jhelum. District-wise, Attock exhibited the highest mean galling index (2.0), while Jhelum had the lowest (0.7). These findings demonstrate the widespread distribution and variability of RKN infestations in grape orchards of the Pothohar region and emphasize the need for integrated nematode management strategies tailored to regional conditions and varietal susceptibility. The differences in prevalence and incidence among districts were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05).
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References
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DOI: 10.33687/10.33687/phytopath.014.03.5810
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