Histopathological response of Mungbean roots infected by Meloidogyne incognita

Pre-parasitic 2^nd stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita after penetrating the roots of mungbean induced 3–7 discrete multinucleated giant cells in the xylem parenchymatous cells opposite to the protoxylem poles by remaining in the apoplast of cortex. Cortical cells were hypertrophoid and adjoining pericycle cells were hyperplastic. Thickening of giant cell walls as well as wall in growths between giant cell and the neighbouring cells were present. In the early, stages giant cell nuclei and nucleoli were enlarged with intense cytoplasmic activity. In later stages, giant cells were shrunken with the withdrawal of protoplasm followed by crushing of the ground tissue.