1Department. of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143 005, India.
2Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143 005, India.
3School of Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
The influence of 24-epibrassinolide (EBl) was investigated on the development of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Two types of treatments were given to the nematode- direct and indirect. In direct treatment, the egg masses of M. incognita were exposed to six concentrations (ranging from 10−10 to 10−5M) of EBl for 7 days. Observations recorded revealed higher percentage of hatching in treated egg masses as compared to control. Hatched juveniles from treated egg masses were further allowed to develop on plants for 45 days. EBl treated juveniles resulted into more gall numbers and larger sizes of galls as compared to untreated ones. Indirect treatment involved the treatment of different plant parts viz. seeds, roots and leaves of tomato cv. Pusa Ruby with six concentrations of EBl and, then untreated J2 @ 10 J2/g soil were released on these treated plants. Seed and root-dip treatments of tomato plants with EBl resulted more number of galls and greater egg mass number as compared to control plants whereas foliar spray had not much affect on nematode development.
24-epibrassinolide, Foliar spray, Meloidogyne incognita, Root-dip treatment, Seed treatment
