Effect of oilcakes and bioagents on plant growth parameters on gladiolus infected by Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

A pot culture experiment was conducted in the net house during Rabi, 2018-19 to find out suitable management practices for management of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in Gladiolus. The treatments are T1 (Bulb soaking with Carbosulfan 25 EC @ 0.2% for 6hrs), T2 (soil application of Purpureocillium lilacinum@ 5kg/ha), T3(Neem oil cake @ 2.0t/ha), T4 (soil application of Purpureocillium lilacinum@ 2.5kg/ha+ Neem oil cake @ 1.0t/ha),T5 (Carbofuran@ 1.0kga.i/ha), T6(T1+T2), T7(T1+T3), T8(T1+T4), T9(T1+T5), T10 (Untreated inoculated check). Each treatment was replicated thrice following Completely Randomized Design. The experimental result indicated that all the treatments significantly increased the plant growth parameters and decreased root-knot nematode population, number of egg masses as well as number of galls over untreated inoculated check. The combined applications gave better result than their single application. Among various treatments, T8 (Bulb soaking with Carbosulfan 25 EC @0.2% for 6hrs followed by soil application of Purpureocillium lilacinum @2.5kg/ha along with Neem oil cake @ 1.0t/ha) resulted highest increase of plant height (95.2%), fresh shoot weight (84.3%), dry shoot weight (52.1%), root length (60.8%), fresh root weight (76.2%), dry root weight (78.2%) with corresponding decrease in number of root galls (82.1%), number of egg masses (89.6%) and root-knot nematode population (67.8%) over untreated inoculated check followed by T9 (Bulb soaking with Carbosulfan 25 EC @0.2% for 6hrs + soil application of carbofuran @ 1.0kg a.i/ha). Therefore, Bulb soaking with Carbosulfan 25 EC @0.2% for 6hrs followed by soil application of Purpureocillium lilacinum @2.5kg/ha along with neem oil cake @ 1.0t/ha during planting was considered the most promising management option against root-knot nematode (M. incognita) affecting gladiolus crop.