Indian Journal of Nematology

The biodegradable effect of oil-seed cakes of neem (Azadirachta indica), castor (Ricinus communis), linseed (Linum usitatissimum), groundrut (Arachis hypogaea), mustard (Brassica campestris) and duan (Eruca sativa), were obsewed against plant-parasitic nematodes and soil-inhabiting fungi infesting fenugreek and also on the succeeding crop, mungbean, in field condition. The resultant biodegradation effect of oil-seed cakes effectively contained the population of plant-parasitic nematodes such as Meloidogyne incognita, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Tylenchorhynchus brassicae, Helicotylenchus indicus, etc. and the frequency of parasitic-fungi Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, Phyllosticta phaseolina, Sclerotium rolfsii, etc. However the frequency of saprophytic fungi Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium degetatum, etc. was increased. As a consequence, several-fold improvement was obsewed in plant-growth parameters (Height, percent pollen fertility, pod numbers, root nodulation, nitrate reductase activity in leaves and chlorophyll contents. Residual effect of oil-seed cakeswas also noticed in the succeeding crop mungbean in the next growing season.