Studies on the pathogenicity of Helicotylenchus dihystera on Celosia cristata

Signifcant reduction in plant growth parameters were noticed at and above inoculum level of 4000 gravid females of H. dihystera/kg soil. Hence, this inoculum level was considered as a damaging threshold level for celosia. It was observed that the nematode population increased with increasing the inoculum of H. dihystera. The maximum nematode population was recorded at the highest inoculum level and the minimum population at the lowest inoculum level. Symptoms like stunted growth, chlorosis of leaves and sparsely developed roots were observed during the experimental studies.