Incidence and Population Density of Plant Parasitic Nematodes Infecting Vegetable Crops and Associated Yield Losses in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Plant parasitic nematodes population densities were determined in 196 root and soil samples collected from vegetables growing areas in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Kushinagar and Deoria districts of eastern U.P. Yield losses linked with nematode incidence were calculated in 19 vegetable crops including two pulse vegetable. The most abundant plant parasitic nematodes detected, in order of decreasing frequency of infestation, were Meloidogyne incognita, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Hoplolaimus indicus, Tylenchorynchus indicus, T. brassicae, Pratylrnchus spp., Helicotylenchus spp., Xiphenema spp. and Longidorous spp. Kushinagar and Deoria districts were explored first time to determine distribution of nematodes and yield losses caused by them. It is observed that yield losses ranged from 4% to 30.2% depending upon the host and nematode. The main reasons responsible for these losses were unawareness among growers/farmers about these tiny hidden enemies of crops, lack of resistant varieties, non-availability of effective management tactics including nematicides, farm practices and monoculture crop farming on the same field. This study suggests the need for development of nematode management modules to avoid losses due to nematodes.