Effect of AM fungus (Glomus fasciculatum) and oilcakes alone and in combination against Meloidogyne incognita infecting Brinjal

Oilcakes such as neem cake, mustard cake, sesame cake each @ 100g and 200g/m², AM fungus (G. fasciculatum) @ 5g and 10g/m² were incorporated either alone or in combination in pot soil. Carbofuran @ 0.3g a.i./m² was applied as standard check. Results indicated that all treatments significantly increased the plant growth parameters, reduced root knot nematode population and other infection parameters over check.. However, among various treatments, application of mustard cake @ 200g/m² + AM fungus @ 10g/m² and mustard cake @ 100g/m² + AM fungus @ 5g/m² found statistically at par were performing better than others contributing significantly increase in number of leaves by 65.4% and 55.1%, dry shoot weight by 116.7% and 113.8%, dry root weight by 93.7% and 79.0%, availability of phosphorus in soil by 76.3% and 63.0%, and colonisation of AM fungus in roots by 72.4% and 58.3%, respectively with corresponding decrease in order of root knot index by 57.1% and 42.8% and root knot nematode population by 92.6% and 91.1% over check. In view of cost effective and low cost management option, application of mustard cake @ 100g/m² + AM fungus @ 5g/m² was found to be the most promising management option against root knot nematode affecting brinjal crop.