Eco-friendly management of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in cabbage using Tithonia diversifolia Varghese Annie P., Nisha M.S.* Department of Nematology, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural university, Vellayani695522, Kerala, India *Corresponding author; E-mail: drnishams@gmail.com; nisha.das@kau.in
Online Published on 29 June, 2022. Abstract In vitro experiments were conducted to test effect of aqueous extracts of weed plants (Tithonia diversifolia, Lantana camara, Eichhornia crassipes and Chromolaena odorata) on egg hatching and mortality of Meloidogyne incognita juveniles. T. diversifolia aqueous extract at 100% concentration recorded maximum egg hatch inhibition and juvenile mortality. Pot culture studies were conducted to standardize appropriate preparation and method of application. Soil application of T. diversifolia dried leaf powder @100g/kg soil significantly reduced nematode population, gall number and number of egg masses and improved the growth parameters in terms of plant and root weight under pot culture condition. Result of field experiment indicated that soil application of T. diversifolia dried powder @ 100 g/plant was statistically on par with chemical and bio agent enriched organic amendment in improving the yield. The present finding confirms the efficacy of T. diversifolia dried powder for the management of M. incognita in cabbage. Top Keywords Tithonia diversifolia, Meloidogyne incognita, Dried powder, Management, Cabbage. Top |