Influence of Meloidogyne incognita infestation on Rhizobium nodule formation in french bean

Abstract

French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important vegetable crop in India and is very susceptible to root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. (Singh et al., 1979). Infested plants are stunted, and generally unthrifty and the yellowish foliage suggests they may be deficient in nitrogen. Several workers have reported that root-knot nematodes cause reduced nodulation in leguminous plants; but there is no published information on french bean. The object of the present investigation was to ascertain the extent to which the root-knot nematode, Meloidogne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitwood interferes with nodulation and growth of this crop.