Spatial Distribution of Nematodes in Pomegranate Orchard Fartale Ganesh, Sharma G.C.* Department of Entomology, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173230, Himachal Pradesh *Corresponding author Email: gian_sharma2003@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 27 November, 2018. Abstract The experiment was conducted in 10 year old orchard located at Hatt of Kullu district with cultivar Kandhari. Three horizontal distances viz., 30, 60 and 90 cm away from the tree trunk and four vertical distances i.e, 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm deep in the rhizosphere were taken into consideration. Soil samples were collected from 12 distance depth combinations viz. 30 x 15, 30 x 30, 30 x 45 and 30 x 60 cm and likewise for 60 and 90 cm distances. Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incongnita), spiral nematode (Helicotylenchus disystera) and Dorylaimids were found prevalent in the orchard. Total nematode populations were found inversely proportional to the sampling distance and depth in the rhizosphere i.e, with the increase in the distance and depth, nematode populations were found reduced. Although, 15 cm depth at all the three distances (30, 60 and 90 cm) showed considerably higher populations of plant parasitic nematodes in comparison to other distance depth combination, maximum nematode populations was extracted from 30 x 15 cm (distance x depth) combination, followed by at 30 x 30 cm combination. Although, the populations of H. dihystera and dorylaimids were found inversely proportional to the sampling depth in the rhizosphere, J2 populations of M. incognita were found increased in the deeper root zone of the plants. The studies, revealed that for the proper estimation of plant parasitic nematode status in the rhizosphere of up to 10 years old pomegranate plants, 30 x 15 cm distance depth combination is most appropriate. Top Keywords Pomegranate, root-knot nematode, spiral nematode, dorylaimids, spatial distribution. Top |