Indian Journal of Nematology

Life cycle and pathogenicity of root-knot nematode was studied on gerbera in polyhouse as well as under net house conditions. Nematode completed life cycle in 45 day under net house conditions. Development was faster in polyhouse as compared to net house and life cycle was completed in 40 days. Pathogenicity of root-knot nematode was studied at the different inoculum levels viz., 0, 10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 J₂ of Meloidogyne incognita/cm³ soil. Significant reduction in plant growth parameters at all the initial inoculum level of 100 J2/kg soil, but the pathogenic level of root-knot nematode in Gerbera was recorded at and above 1,000 J₂ inoculum level under both the conditions but plant growth parameters like shoot length (26.9 cm), fresh shoot weight (12.8g), dry shoot weight (3.3g), fresh root weight (22.8g), dry root weight (6.5g), number of galls per root system (14), no. of egg masses per root system (8) and final nematodes population (110 J₂) was recorded higher under polyhouse condition.