Generic diversity and community analysis of nematodes in saffron fields of chandhara district Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Generic diversity and community analyses of plant parasitic, predatory and free-living nematodes were examined for 50 soil samples collected from saffron fields of Chandhara, Pulwama district, J&K. In all, twenty nine different genera were identified, out of which eight belonged to plant parasitic, eleven to predators and ten to free-living nematode groups. As an individual, Helicotylenchus was the most frequently encountered nematode genus with high density, relative density, mean biomass, relative mean biomass, prominence, relative prominence, importance and relative importance values. The genus Acrobeloides was encountered with least values for above parameters. Predatory nematodes were greater in number than other nematodes in the region and showed positive dependence on the population of other nematodes of the community. A maximum of 29 genera, eight of plant parasitic, eleven of predators and ten of free-living nematodes were identified in one sample. A minimum population of 150–199 and maximum of 600–650 nematode individuals was encountered per sample. Maximum number of soil samples (N=13) contained 201–250 whereas minimum (N=1 each) contained 451–500, 501–550 and 600–650 nematode individuals per sample. Total biomass was recorded least at 101–200 μg/sample whereas the maximum was at 900–1000 μg/sample. The maximum number of soil samples (N=20) contained nematode biomass ranging between 501–600 μg/sample.