MSc

The objectives of the study entitled ‘ Management of root knot nematode in thippali (Piper longum L.)’ were to identify the species of root knot nematode infesting thippali and to study the management of this nematode using organic amendments, bioagents and a chemical. Soil and root samples were collected from thippali growing plots already infested with root knot nematodes. The species of root knot nematode attacking thippali was identified as Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1889) Chitwood, 1949. This is the first report on the attack of M. arenaria on thippali from Kerala.

Pot culture experiments were conducted to study the management of root knot nematode infesting thippali using neem cake, mulching with Tagetes waste, drenching with root extracts of Tagetes erecta, different bioagents, a chemical and a neem formulation. The effect of various treatments on the shoot, yield and root characters, nematode population, vegetative parametric ratio and nematode relative ratio were tested.

Among the various treatments studied the application of bioagents (viz. B. subtilis, T. viride, P. fluorescens, AMF) improved the growth of thippali with maximum vine length, number of leaves, number of branches, root length, shoot and root weight and minimum root knot index, gall formation and nematode population in root and soil. Early spike formation and also an increase in number of spikes were observed in plants treated with B. subtilis and P. fluorescens respectively. The control of root knot nematode achieved as a result of application of biocontrol agents was superior to that due to carbofuran application. The study clearly indicated that the root knot nematode population in P. longum can be effectively managed using the bioagents and is a better alternative to nematicide application.