Population ecology and community structure of plant parasitic nematodes associated with ginger in West Bengal

A two-year intensive survey of ginger in 24 plantations in West Bengal indicated the presence of plant parasitic nematodes belonging to eight genera and ten species, fiom both soil and root. Among them, by community analysis, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Helicotylenchus indicus and Xiphinema elongatum were adjudged first three positions in importance value, and R. reniformis, Pratylenchus coffeae and H. multicinctus in prominence value, both in descending order. Cluster analysis, dendrogram and similarity index computed for five major horticultural crops, viz. mandarin orange, ginger, pineapple, coconut, arecanut in the region indicated identicality of more than 90 p.c. nernic fauna of Kalimpong and Pedong, suggesting that location effect due to variations in climate, cropping system and management practices were least inmost of the ginger growing areas.