Effect of Meloidogyne incognita on chlorophyll, carotenoid content and physiological function of Mentha arvensis

Meloidogyne incognita altered mentha plants physiology, disrupted vascular tissue, causing reduced amount of water and mineral supply to the foliage, which hampered the photosynthetic process. Meloidogyne incognita reduced the chlorophyll ‘a’ and chlorophyll ‘b’ and total chlorophyll content and assimilation rate of mentha plants. Contrary to this nematode, increased carotenoid ‘c’ temperature of leaf and canopy, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of leaf. The significant reduction of chlorophyll ‘b’ and total chlorophyll contents started at 10 nematodes and above where as chlorophyll ‘a’ reduced at 100 nematodes and above. Carotenoids ‘c’ showed significant increase at 10 nematodes/pot and above. Temperature of canopy and stomatal conductance showed significant increase at 100 and above nematodes, where as temperature of leaf showed significant increase at 1000 and above nematodes per pot. Assimilation and transpiration rate showed non-significant decrease and increase respectively over check