Effect of different sowing times on growth of wheat crop and development of rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola

Among a number of species, rice root knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola has emerged as a major pest in rice-wheat cropping system. Present studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of different sowing dates of wheat on development of M. graminicola and growth of wheat plants. seeds of wheat variety hd 2967 were sown in pots (6" diameter) containing root knot nematode infested soil (2 juveniles per g) at three different times i.e. on 25^th October, 10^th november and 25^th november. Observations on number of tillers, shoot length and weight, root length and weight, number of galls and nematode population per pot were recorded at 45 days of sowing and at the harvesting of crop i.e. in the month of April. Number of tillers remained unaffected with different sowing times, while shoot and root lengths were highest in 25^th Nov. sown crop, which were significantly better than other two dates of sowing at both 45 dAs and at harvesting. similarly, shoot and root weight were recorded highest in late sown crop at both 45 dAs and at harvesting. number of galls per plant was recorded highest in 25^th Oct. sown crop, which was significantly better than other two dates of sowing at 45 DAS but was at par with 10^th nov. sown crop at harvesting. lowest number of galls per plant was recorded from 25^th nov. sown crop, which was significantly lower than others. Nematode population in soil per pot was recorded highest in 25^th Oct. sown crop which was significantly better than others, with lowest being in 25^th nov. sown crop at both 45 dAs and at harvesting. hence, the late sowing of wheat i.e. 25^th November has been demonstrated effective in reducing the soil nematode population and increasing the plant growth of wheat.