INFLUENCE OF THE LESION NEMATODE, PRATYLENCHUS ZEAE, ON YIELD AND QUALITY CHARACTERS OF TWO CULTIVARS OF SUGARCANE
Authors
P. Sundararaj
K. Mehta
Abstract
The pathogenicity of the lesion nematode Pratylenchus zeae was tested on sugarcane cvs. Co 6304 and CoC 671 by inoculating a logarithmic series of nematodes, O, 102, 103, 104 and 105. Nematodes caused a significant reduction in yield, the maximum at an inoculum level of 105. In the ratoon crop in addition to loss in yield, nematodes affected quality of cane as Brix, sucrose and CCS% in cv. CoC 671.