Pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita on small cardamom, Elettaria Cardamomum maton

The relationships between a logarithmic series of five initial densities (Pi) of Meloidogyne incognita (0 to 400 nematodes/100 cm³ soil) and growth as well as yield of a susceptible accession of small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) were investigated through a long term study. Maximum growth suppression and yield loss (46.1%) were noticed at Pi=4 nematodes/100 cm³ soil followed by Pi=0.4/100 cm³ soil. The earliest visible damage due to nematode infestation was noticed as reduction in number of tillers, observed six months after inoculation. However, stunting and narrowing of leaves were also observed at the fag end of the trial. No significant difference was observed in the final nematode densities in roots of cardamom plants of different Pi s. The nematode population stabilised after the initial temporal changes as a result of the self-regulatory, density dependent processes with time. Damage caused at the early part of the growth phase of cardamom plants was crit~cal to the final yield and crop stand.