Indian Journal of Nematology

Noni, Morinda citrfolia L., is a miracle plant which has more than 150 nutraceuticals and is extensively cultivated in the coastal areas of India. While its cultivation and medical significance is gaining popularity, it is important to understand various stress factors that the crop encounters. Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most damaging pathogens infesting the crop at the seedling stage in the nursery and carried over to the main field. Various nursery management strategies including soil solarization, steam sterilization, sun drying, soil fumigation, incorporation of organic amendments and biocontrol agents were evaluated for their efficacy in managing the root knot nematode at nursery level. Results revealed that pot mixture amended with chitin and Pseudomonas fluorescens significantly reduced nematode population by 90 per cent over the control followed by soil solarization and chemical fumigation thereby increasing the number of transplantable healthy seedlings.