Histology of peanut underground parts infected with Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

The histological changes in legume nodular tissues induced by the infection of the root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) have been studied by Robinson (1961) on velvet bean (Stizolobium sp.), Taha and Raski (1969) on Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and Yousif (1972) on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Their findings revealed the formation of giant cells inside the vascular bundles while the structure of nodular tissues was not disturbed. Observations on infection of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) roots (Minton and Jackson, 1967; Oteifa et al., 1970) and pods (Minton and Jackson, 1967; Minton et al., 1969) by root-knot nematodes stimulated the present histopathological study on Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitw. on peanut roots, nodules, pegs (gynophores) and pods (fruits). Oteifa et al. (1970) found M. incognita with other species infecting peanut roots grown in new reclaimed irrigated lands in Tahrir Province, Egypt.