Effect of maleic hydrazide, a plant growth inhibitor, on the biology of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

Increased levels of auxin were reported in root galls following invasion by various species of Meloidogyne (Bird, 1962, Balasubramanian and Rangaswami, 1962; Yu and Viglierchio, 1964; Setty and Wheeler, 1968). Giebel and Wilski (1969) and Giebel (1970) suggested that IAA released from' complexes' in the root tissue caused nuclear division without cytokinesis resulting in the giant cell formation which is necessary for normal development of root-knot nematodes. Furthermore, the adverse effect on the reproduction of plant parasitic nematodes following foliar application of a growth inhibitor like maleic hydrazide indicates the necessity for phytohormones for their successful development (Nusbaum, 1958; Peacock, 1960; Davide and Triantaphyllou, 1968). Because little is known about the reasons for the adverse efIect of growth inhibitors on the biology of nematodes, investigations have been made with maleic hydrazide (MH) and Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid el White) Chitw.