Studies on Pathogenicity and Life Cycle of Rotylenchulus reniformis on Bottle gourd

Significant reduction in plant growth was recorded at or above inoculum level of 2000 immature females of R. reniformis / plant and hence, this inoculum level was considered as a damaging threshold level for bottle gourd. It was observed that the nematode population increased with increasing the inoculum level of R. reniformis. The maximum nematode population was recorded at the highest inoculum level and the minimum population at the lowest inoculum level. The reproduction factor was significantly reduced with the increase in inoculum levels. The reniform nematode, R. reniformis required 31 days to complete its life cycle in bottle gourd.