INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA ON OKRA BY CASTOR CAKE SUSPENSION AND PAECILOMYCES LILACINUS

Abstract

Integrated management of Meloidogyne incognita on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under field conditions was standardized by integrating Paecilomyces lilacinus with castor cake aqueous suspension. Seed treatment with castor cake suspension (10%) mixed with P. lilacinus spores and sowing these treated seeds in the soil drenched with castor cake suspension has proved as effective as application of carbofuran at 2 kg a.i/ha or direct application of castor cake at the rate of 2 tons/ha, in reducing the root-knot index, final population of M. incognita and increasing the fruit yield of okra. Further, significant increases in root colonization, propagule density in soil and per cent egg infection by P. lilacinus reveal complementary interactive effect between these two components requires for their sustainable use in the management of M. incognita on okra under field conditions.