Evaluation of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millisp.] genotypes against root- knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica)

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) is an important nematode pest of pigeonpea causing extensive losses to grain yield and quality. Nematicides are less effective in terms of cost and management of root-knot nematodes. Therefore, the present study was aimed at evaluating a set of 24 different pigeonpea genotypes against M. javanica under controlled PVC pipe (30×10 cm, L×W) condition. Each pipes were uniformly filled with sterilized soil (2.25 kg) and five infective juveniles (IJs)/cc of soil was inoculated. The results revealed that, the wild Cajanus scarabaeoides accession ICP 15701 did not develop root galls and recorded the lowest reproduction factor (0.26) hence, categorised as immune write. This was followed by five genotypes viz., DPPA 85-12, DPPA 85-8, DPPA 85-1, DPPA 85-13 and IPA 15-1 showing moderately resistant reaction of the total 24 genotypes examined write.Thirteen, three and two genotypes showed moderately susceptible, susceptible and highly susceptible reactions, respectively against M. javanica based on their number of egg mass, gall index and reproduction factor of nematode.