Studies on the survival of Radopholus similis under various adverse conditions

Rodopholus similis survived under adverse conditions as adult females during summer months in infested coconut roots under field conditions. The hatching of the nematode is triggered only with sufficient soil moisture. Under green house conditions at 0.4 per cent moisture level (wilting point), none of the stages of the nematode could be recovered alive. Under moisture stress different stages of the nematode became dormant. In mesocarp, 20 per cent moisture prevented survival of all stages. In culture, on carrot discs, the depletion of food was withstood maximum by adult females followed by fourth stage female juveniles compared to second, third and fourth stage male juveniles and gravid females. Adult females and fourth stage female. survived for maximum days in water compared to other stages. However, the capacity of differer stages to survive in water was not different between isolates from arecanut, banana, coconut and black pepper.