Status of plant parasitic nematodes in apple orchards of Himachal Pradesh

In the present study ten plant parasitic nematodes viz Pratylenchus coffeae, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Tylenchorhynchus mashhoodi, Paratylenchus curvitatus, Meloidogyne sp, Mesocriconema xenoplax, Gracilacus peperpotti, Hoplolaimus indicus, Xiphinema sp and Tylenchus sp were found harboring in the rhizosphere of apple orchards in Himachal Pradesh. Most frequently occurring nematodes were P coffeae, H dihystera and T mashhoodi (100% frequency of occurrence), followed by Meloidogyne sp (83%). P curvitatus, Xiphinema sp and Tylenchus sp were found prevalent in the orchards of 33 per cent districts surveyed while G peperpotti, M xenoplax and H indicus in 16 per cent districts. Highest population (maximum) was recorded of H dihystera (600/200 cc soil) followed by P coffeae and T mashhoodi (500) while it remained minimum for the Xiphinema sp (50/200 cc soil). With highest average population of 152/200 cc soil P coffeae was most dominating followed by H dihystera and T mashhoodi (with same average population of 127). Average population recorded for other nematodes remained at a very low ebb (1–14/200 cc soil).