EFFECT OF MELOIDOGYNE GRAMINICOLA ON ROOT GROWTH OF GRAMINACEOUS PLANTS

Abstract

The rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, significantly suppressed root growth of the graminaceous plants, rice, wheat, sorghum and a grass, Echinochloa colonum. The amount of damage varied with the plant species, the main roots of rice and E. colonum were inhibited by the nematode and laterals grew in clusters on or around the galls. The largest number of galls and nematodes occurred on sorghum roots.