Effect of various initial population densities of two species of Meloidogyne on growth of tomato and cucumber in greenhouse

Abstract

The effects of initial population levels of either Meloidogyne incognita or M. javanica [0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 eggs and second stage juveniles (J2) per g of soil] on tomato cultivar Shaft-Falat and of M. javanica (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 eggs and J2 per g of soil) on cucumber cultivar Super Amelia were investigated in pots in a greenhouse. Inoculation of tomato with 4 eggs and J2 of M. incognita or M. javanica per g of soil reduced shoot length and fresh dry weights to similar extents. On cucumber, the same variables were significantly reduced at 16 eggs and J2 of M. javanica per g of soil. The numbers of eggs and galls of the nematodes on the roots of both crop plants increased with the increase of the initial inoculum level while the reproduction rates decreased. On tomato, at 1-4 eggs and J2 per g of soil, the reproduction of M. incognita was more than that of M. javanica. Meloidogyne javanica reproduced more on cucumber than on tomato.