TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM (FENUGREEK) AND COLOCASIA ESCULANTA (TARO): NEW HOSTS OF MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA IN PAKISTAN

摘要

During the year, 2006, a survey was conducted for the plant parasitic nematodes attacking vegetables; two new hosts of root-knot nematode were recorded. Moderate to heavy galling on the roots of Fenugreek 'Methi' (Trigonella foenum — graecum) and Taro 'Arvi' (Colocasia esculanta) was observed due to infestation of root-knot nematode. Diseased plants showed symptoms of yellowish and stunted growth. Under the stereoscopic microscope mature white pear shaped females were recovered from roots of Fenugreek and Taro. Using perineal pattern technique (Eisenback et al, 1981), a common species of root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1910; Chitwood 1949) was identified from both the hosts. The perineal pattern of M. incognita comprises adistinct dorsal arch composed of smooth to wavy lines and no lateral incisures. These hosts are new records of M. incognita not hitherto reported in Pakistan (Zarina & Maqbool, 1991; Maqbool & Shahina, 2001; Khanzada & Khan, 2003; Zarina, 2004; Khan etal, 2005; Erum et al., 2005).