DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2014.v02i11.012

Pages: 809-812

This study examined the relationship between six different root – knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica inoculum densities 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 eggs/plant and two varieties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), UG1 and Himachal Pradesh. The greenhouse work was setup in complete randomized design of two ginger varieties, six root – knot nematode densities, in five replications raised for six months in 1,000cc of manured and sterilized soils bagged in about 2 litres –sized black polythene planting bags and planted with one rhizome/bag with nematodes inoculated at four weeks after planting. The results of the study indicated that M. javanica caused damage to the ginger at all density levels they were applied and below – ground growth values were significantly different from controls and the highest symptoms were obtained from plants treated with 8,000 nematode egg/plant. Also, top growth remained at a high level in spite of increased galling of the roots. Himachal Pradesh had significantly higher yield but significantly lower stem weight than UG1 and more damage symptoms confirming it to be more highly susceptible to Meloidogyne javanica infection than UG1. In addition, significant interaction between nematode density and variety was obtained on the damage symptoms on the ginger. The economic threshold level in this experiment was 1000eggs/plant as this is the level at which significant damage was obtained in the ginger roots.