Influence of mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus fasciculatum spore concentration on Rotylenchulus reniformis population dynamics and cotton growth

Green house tests were conducted to evaluate the influence of different spore levels of Glomus fasciculatum on growth of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum cv. ‘Coker Carolins Queenș and mthe population dynamics of Rotylenchulus reniformis. Lower numhers of adult female with eggmasses were recorded on mycorrhizal roots moculatd with a spore concentration of 300 and above when compared to controls. Increasing the spore concentration of the fungus from 300 to 1800/plant reduced soil population ranging from 40 to 80% at low nematode moculum level (100/plant). In general, the nematode did not have any effect on the number of spores produced or root colonization of the fungus. There was a positive vegetative growth response of cotton plants to increased spore concentration of G. fasciculatum. The mycelium and chlamydospores of G. fasciculatum were,consistantly observed in eggmasses of R. reniformis.