Effects of population densities of Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica nematodes on growth and fruit production in Abelmoschus esculentus

Abstract

Populations of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood and M. javanica (Treub) Chitwood at densities of 300. 1500. 4000 and 10 000 larvae per potted plant of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench increased greatly at mid-season (twelve weeks after inoculation) and after six weeks from fruit harvest, especially with M. incognita. Significant increases (P = 0.05) in fresh root weight were found except in plants that had 300 or 10 000 larvae. Low M. incognita densities of 300 and 1500 larvae significantly increased fresh shoot weight and number of fruits harvested weekly over the uninoculated controls, but at the higher densities of 4000 and 10 000 larvae, and even from the lowest M. javanica density of 300 larvae, these paremters were significantly decreased. Fruits in the fourth and sixth weeks with M. incognita and the fifth weeks with M. javanica were not significantly different in number from those of the control plants.