Potential of mycorrhizae as a sustainable approach for managing Meloidogyne incognita infecting cucumber

AbstractThe potential of mycorrhizae was assessed against Meloidogyne incognita on cucumber under screenhouse and protected conditions. Application of Glomus fasciculatum and G. mosseae at 10 mg was found effective in suppressing final populations of rootknot nematode to the extent of 37.5 and 33.7%, respectively, in a pot experiment conducted in screenhouse. Besides suppressing nematode reproduction parameters, mycorrhizae treatments also augmented plant growth variables. The efficacy of the two Glomus spp. was further examined against M. incognita on cucumber under protected conditions. Each treatment significantly enhanced shoot growth and yield, while it reduced the galls, egg masses, eggs and final nematode population compared to the control. Under protected condition, the nematode population was reduced up to 70.0 and 68.8% with G. fasciculatum @ 2 g per m2 applied at the time of planting (ATP) and 45 days after planting (DAP), followed by G. mosseae @ 2 g per m2 ATP and 45 DAP, respectively. The study has revealed that mycorrhizae can be used for managing root-knot nematode in cucumber.