Abstract

PHYTONEMATODES GROWTH EFFECT STUDIES ON LEAFY VEGETABLE CROPS

Datrika Swapna*, Geeta Rajalingam and P. Nagaraja Rao

Abstract

Nematodes feed from plants in a variety of ways, but all use a specialized spear called a stylet. In this work, we have identified several nematodes in the soil of leafy vegetable crops like Spinach and Mentha. The nematodes Radopholus and Criconemella were specific in Spinach soil and Rotylenchulus was specific in Mentha. Soil analysis of these vegetable crops was studied and the pH was found to be 7.5 in spinach grown soil and 7.8 in mentha grown soil. The temperature was found to be 250C for spinach soil, and 250C for Mentha soil. Among the soils selected, Spinach showed high diversity of microorganisms followed by Mentha. Micrococcus roseus, Bacillus cereus, Cellulomonas terrae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Azospirillum brasilense, Rhizopus microspores, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia clavata, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum and AM Spore were found in all the different soils of leafy vegetables. Hoplolaimus was found to be in low number and Aorolaimus was found to be in high number in leafy vegetables. The nematode population density was increased from first day to 30th day in all the leafy vegetable crops. When compared to control (without leafy vegetables), the soil which contain with leafy vegetables have high nematode number.

Keywords: Phyto Nematodes, Spinach, Mentha Caloosia and Micrococcus roseus.