1Plant Patholagy and Plant Nematology Laboratories, Department of Bolany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002.
2Institute of Agriculture, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002.
Effect of soil salinity (created by NaCl and NaHCO3) on penetration and development of Meloidogyne incognita race 2 in okra and cucumber roots and on plant growth were assessed. Salts at 5.0 mmhos/cm impaired ingress of the juveniles and delayed their development. Soil salinity and root-knot nematode reduced plant growth of both okra and cucumber, root galling, egg mass production and fecundity. There was a corresponding decrease in number of galls, egg masses and number of eggs/egg mass with increase in concentration of the salts. Delay in nematode ingress, development and reproduction in plant roots caused by the salinity stress resulted in improved plant growth.
Salinity, M. incognita, nematode development, cucumber, okra, plant growth
