Occurrence, distribution and community analysis of plant parasitic nematodes associated with leguminous vegetable crops in West Bengal

A roving survey of the leguminous vegetables crops in seven districts of West Bengal was conducted. Examination of root samples showed the presence of root-knot nematodes in all the seven districts on cowpea, dolichos bean, french bean and pea, but reniform nematode was found infecting cowpea and pea only. Analysis of of soil samples showed the occurence of 17 species of plant parasitic nematodes belonging to 8 genera. Rotylenchulus reniformis was found the most prominant based on prominance value followed by species of Meloidogyne, Tylenchorhynchus, Criconemoides, Pratylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Helicotylenchus and Hirschmanniella in close association with the crops.