Integrated Management Modules for Root-knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in Tuberose

Aims: Identification of effective Integrated Nematode Management for managing Meloidogyne incognita in tuberose.

Methodology: The In vitro experiment was conducted in nematode lab and field study experiment performed in sick field of Field No. 10, Botanical Garden, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The experiment was conducted in tuberose cv. Prajwal under drip as well as surface irrigated conditions with the spacing of 30 X 20 cm following randomized block design (RBD) with ten treatment modules and replicated thrice as mentioned below.

Results: The in vitro studies revealed that Acorus calamus and Swietenia mahogany culture filtrates showed spectacular ovicidal and juvenile mortality effects against Meloidogyne incognita, with 100% juvenile mortality and more than 93% egg hatching inhibition after 72 hours. Biocontrol agents among them, Purpureocillium lilacinum, recorded the highest percentage of ovicidal (91.35%) and juvenile mortality (95.67%). Among the management modules, the highest yield attributes such as early emergence of spike (100 days), spike length (78.30 cm), number of florets per spike (48.00) and flower yield (66.82g) was recorded in the module of bulb treatment with P. fluorescens @ 10g/kg bulbs + soil application of Carbofuran @ 1kg a.i./ha+ post plant application of P. fluorescens @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with FYM @ 1 t/ha, while the lowest nematode population in soil (145.00) and root (52.33), least gall index (1.66) was recorded in the management module consisting of bulb treatment with carbosulfan 25 ST at 3 per cent concentration + soil application of Carbofuran @ 1kg a.i./ha+ post plant application of P. lilacinum @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with FYM @ 1 t/ha under field conditions.

Conclusion: According to the findings integrated management module reduced the nematode population compared to individual management methods.