Synergistic effect of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii and Fusarium oxysporum in causing guava decline in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A pot culture study on the interaction of nematode Meloidogyne enterolobil and fungus, Fusarium oxysporum was carried out with six different treatments. The disease incidence was 100% in the treatments inoculated with nematodes followed by fungus and simultaneous inoculation of root knot nematode and fungus. Hence, both the nematode and fungus equally contributed to guava decline. The entry paved by M enterolobil through its feeding sites and infection made the guava plants susceptible to Fusarium contributing to the incidence of guava decline. It was observed that root knot index was significantly higher in plants inoculated with nematode alone (3.25) followed by nematode inoculation 15 days prior to fungus. These findings pave way to develop stratenges in overcoming guava decline.