Screening and histological characterization of Guava (Psidium guajava) cultivars against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii Ashokkumar N., Poornima K.*, Kalaiarasan P., Kavino M.1 Department of Nematology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003 (Tamil Nadu), India 1Department of Fruit Crops, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003 (Tamil Nadu), India *poornimamurtysista@gmail.com
Online published on 9 August, 2019. Abstract Survey was done in major guava growing districts of Tamil Nadu in India for incidence for guava root knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii was found positive in all the districts, Theni district showing total infestation. The screening results showed that Mini Guava (4.0), Local (4.0), White seedless (3.6), Red seedless (3.6), Panneer guava (3.6) were susceptible to M. enterolobii, based on gall index, unfortunately other cultivars were highly susceptible. Root exudate was collected in 15 cultivars and tested the hatching ability of eggs and second stage juvenile (J2s) mortality rate. The root exudate increased the egg hatching ability and decreased the juvenile mortality rate. The increase in hatching ability and decrease in mortality rate was directly proportional to increase in time and concentration. Moreover, the histopathological response of M. enterolobii infested roots showed complete damage of the epidermis, cortex, endodermis, pericycle, xylem and phloem cells of roots and different stages of M. enterolobii were found exist in clusters. Top Keywords Histopathology, Meloidogyne enterolobii, Screening, Survey. Top |