Pathogenicity Potential of Meloidogyne incognita in Cowpea

Pathogenic potential of Meloidogyne incognita with different inoculum levels i.e. 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 larvae/pot capacity of 1 kg soil were tested in the net house of the Department. Observations were recorded on plant growth parameters no. of nodules, no. of root-knot galls and larvae population. Drastic reduction form 24.43% to 62.30% in average growth characters was recorded in the plants inoculated with the inoculum level of 5000 larvae/pot as compared with other inculum level. The final nematode population (J₂) of M. incognita also directly proportional to the initial inoculum level of cowpea crop. Gradual reduction in no. of bacterial nodulation of cowpea was observed with the increase of inoculum levels.