Three field experiments were conducted in Nilgiris during 1997–98 to find out the influence of antagonism of mustard crop to potato cyst nematodes, Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida. Mustard was tried as sole and as an intercrop at 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 plant ratios and the experiments were conducted in FRBD with application and non-application of carbofuran 3G as two factors. Observations were taken on egg and larval content of cysts remaining in soil and number of white females on potato roots at harvest. The experimental results indicated that the infestation of potato cyst nematodes was significantly less in 1:1 plant ratios of mustard and potato, even though there was increased hatching in these treatments. The tuber yield was found enhanced by 36.8 per cent at this ratio over the control. Mustard intercropping when combined with application of carbofuran reduced the nematode infestation significantly over the untreated potato without intercrop.
Potato, Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera pallida, mustard
