ASSOCIATION OF ROTYLENCHULUS RENIFORMZS WITH PLANT GROWTH HETEROGENEITY OF PIGEON PEA

Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) plants were stunted in soils heavily infested with Rotylenchulus reniformis at Gwalior in Central India. Nematode densities in these soils at sowing ranged from 1.8 to 4.2 per cm[sup3] soil. Application of 6 kg a.i./ha carbofuran 3G significantly reduced nematode densities, and improved crop growth except at lower nematode densities (0.6 to 1.1 per cm[sup3] soil) where the treatment had little effect. In greenhouse trials, application of 20 l/ha of dibromo-chloropropane (DBCP) or 6 kg a.i./ha of carbofuran reduced nematode densities, and increased the plant growth, indicating that R. reniformis is a contributing factor in causing stunted and patchy growth of pigeonpea which is commonly known as the heterogeneity problem of pigeonpea.