Study on the effect of radiofrequency waves on root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita Tadigiri Sirisha, Chawla Gautam*, Krishnan Prameela1 Department of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi– 110012 1Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi– 110012 *Corresponding author- E-mail: gchawla@iari.res.in
Online published on 21 June, 2017. Abstract Thermal death kinetics of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita was determined using a hot-water bath at temperature range of 45–60°C. Minimum time required to kill 100% second stage juveniles (J2s) decreased with the increase in temperature; it was 2 min for 55°C and 1 min for 60°C treatments. Minimum hatching (1.02%) was recorded at 60°C for 4 min treatment. Treatment of egg masses and J2s to three radio frequencies (RF) viz. 13, 27 and 42 MHz showed that the effect of 27 and 42 MHz on inhibition of the egg hatch and mortality was statistically at par and better than that of 13 MHz treatment. The thermogram of tuberose after RF heating at 27 MHz showed that the rise of temperature was not uniform throughout the bulb tissues. Often the rise of temperature was more in the narrower part (point of emergence of shoot) of the bulbs compared to the broader equatorial region. RF heating also resulted in the higher temperature at the centre of the bulb compared to its peripheral regions. The bulbs of tuberose, treated at 27 MHz RF (1.2 kW power) for 8 and 10 min showed delayed germination and poor plant growth compared to untreated bulbs. Maximum 85% inhibition in hatching of eggs recovered from RF-treated infected-bulbs of tuberose could be achieved. Top Keywords Radiofrequency, Meloidogyne incognita, Polianthes tuberosa. Top |