Species diversity of root knot nematodes infesting vegetable crops in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Random surveys were carried in vegetable growing areas of Tamil Nadu to determine the occurrence of root knot nematode species in vegetable crops. Adult females were extracted from root knot galls for species identification. The posterior culticular pattern and morphological measurement results revealed that the three root knot nematode species viz., Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaeria and M. javanica were observed on vegetable crops grown in plain areas of Tamil Nadu. Whereas, M. hapla was recorded only in high altitude temperate region of Tamil Nadu (the Nilgris). Nematode morphometric measurements were recorded and the species identity was confirmed by comparing the measurements with original description.