Influence of Glomus intraradices and Soil Phosphorus on Meloidogyne incognita Infecting Cucumis melo

Authors

  • C. M. Heald
  • B. D. Bruton
  • R. M. Davis

Abstract

The interaction among Glomus intraradices, Meloidogyne incognita, and cantaloupe was studied at three soil phosphorus (P) levels in a greenhouse. All plants grew poorly in soil not amended with P, regardless of mycorrhizal or nematode status. In soil amended with 50 [mu]g P /g soil, M. incognita suppressed the growth of nonmycorrhizal plants by 84%. In contrast, growth of mycorrhizal plants inoculated with M. incognita was retarded by only 21%. A similar trend occurred in plants grown in soil with 100 [mu]g P /g soil. Mycorrhizal infection had no effect on the degree of root-knot gall formation and did not affect the number of nematode eggs per egg mass. Mineral levels in plant shoots generally declined as soil P levels increased and were not significantly influenced by G. intraradices or M. incognita. Key words: cantaloupe, Cucumis melo, Glomus intraradices, interaction, Meloidogyne incognita, mineral element, mycorrhizae, root-knot nematode, soil phosphorus.

Downloads

Published

1989-01-15

Issue

Section

Articles