A survey of Root-knot nematodes associated with tomato crops In Fatehabad, Agra

Abstract

Root knot nematodes are reported from all terrains of all ecosystems. These nematodes are reported from all the places in our planet earth wherever the average temperature goes above 3°C. Root-knot nematodes are serious pathogens of the crops particularly vegetable crops. The damage caused by these worms primarily goes unnoticed as these nematodes infects the underground parts of the plants and also quite some time the damage is being attributed by other pathogens too. The damage caused by these nematodes has been estimated to be around $157 billion worldwide. We have only handful methods to control them. Our inability to design novel control methods and loses due to root-knot nematodes is primarily due to our poor understanding of the biology of this parasite. Nevertheless, in recent past the field of plant nematology was in focus with the genome sequences of more than half a dozen of nematodes associated with plants are either sequenced or several ESTs are sequenced leading to significant information from these nematodes. We and others in Uttar Pradesh have conducted survey of vegetable fields infested by root-knot nematodes on tomato crops from various regions of Uttar Pradesh. In this paper we are presenting the results of the survey conducted over more than two years in cropping season of tomato crops in Fatehabad. In our study we have examined more than 575 root samples to ascertain the nematode prevalence in a particular area. The purpose of this study is was to access the distribution of root-knot nematodes and their incidence on tomato crop.