Studies on occurrence, pathogenic potential and management of reniform nematode on spearmint

Rotylenchulus renijbrmis has recently emerged as widely distributed and dominant pest of Mentha spicata. Pathogenicity experiment indicated severe reduction in plant weight, oil yield, limonene content in oil, and leaf chlorophyllltotal sugarlphenol content of spearmint cv. MSS-5 due to nematode infection. Leaf-stem ratio was less suppressed, while carvone content in oil was increased. Nematode transmission through infected planting material was minimized by exposure to sunlight and dipping it in 0.1% carbofuran solution for one hour. Pre-transplant treatment with carbofuran, phorate, neem seed powder, neem cake and Trichoderma harzianum effectively reduced the nematode and enhanced plant growth and oil yield.