1Division of Nematology, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner- 302018
2Department of Nematology, Sri Karan Narendra College of Agriculture, Jobner303329, India
3Department of Nematology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur313001, India
*Corresponding author; E-mail: hrg.nematology@sknau.ac.in
A survey was conducted in 2023-2024 on major horticultural nurseries in Eastern Rajasthan to assess the incidence of root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne spp., in important fruit crop nurseries. A total of 268 samples were collected from government and private nurseries located in the districts of Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, and Jaipur. Among the fruit crops surveyed, papaya nurseries recorded the highest incidence of RKN infestation, followed by guava and pomegranate. Private nurseries generally exhibited higher infestation levels than government nurseries. Among the surveyed districts, Sawai Madhopur recorded comparatively higher nematode incidence in private nurseries, with infection levels of 36.67 per cent in guava, 48.00 per cent in papaya, and 40.00 per cent in pomegranate nurseries. Papaya was found to be highly susceptible to root-knot nematode infestation, particularly in Tonk (60.00%) and Jaipur (42.86%) districts. The study clearly indicates the widespread occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in fruit crop nurseries in Eastern Rajasthan, and underscores the urgent need for their management to minimize the nematode spread of infestation and ensure healthy nursery stock to the growers.
Eastern Rajasthan, Fruit Crop Nurseries, Incidence, Survey, Root-knot Nematode
