EFFECT OF MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA ON NODULATION AND SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN FIXATION IN PEA

Abstract

Inoculation experiments showed that irrespective of the rime of inoculation of Meloidogyne incoglnita and Rhizobium, the inclusion of nematode in any of the treatments caused significant reduction in plant growth. However, the effect was less significant when Rhizobium was already established before the introduction of the nematode. The inclusion of the nematode in any of the treatments caused reduction in the number of nodules. The nematode infection also interfered with the symbiotic nitrogen fixation and reduced the nitrogen content of shoot and root.