Effect of Meloidogyne incognita on growth and nutrient uptake in Capsicum annuum

An inoculum level of 1000 J₂/500 g soil was found damaging threshold level on cv. RCH-1 of chilli. The number of galls, egg masses/plant and final population of nematode was observed to increase with the increase in the initial inoculum level and maximum increase in various nematode parameters was recorded at 5000 J₂/500 g of soil. Parasitization of the roots by the nematode resulted in less uptake of N, P and K. The inocula of 1000 J₂/500 g soil and above were found to cause significant reductions in N, P, K uptake in the plant and total chlorophyll content in the leaves. Consequently, there was a higher accumulation of the nutrients in the rhizospheric soil.