Screening Of Basmati Rice And Wheat Cultivars Against Root Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne Graminicola In Sick Pot Condition

The response of selected 25 basmati rice and 30 wheat cultivars to infestation by a root knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola was examined under sick pot condition. Resistance screening of the cultivars was done based on the reproducibility of M. graminicola to susceptible check and disease intensity grade was classified on the basis of root knot index. In rice 1 cultivar was resistant at 60 days after seed sowing then other varieties. In wheat, 7 cultivars were resistant than other cultivars. The growth pattern of susceptible varieties was observed to be negatively correlated to the nematode infection expressed in terms of galls as shown in less number of tillers, low weight of roots and shoots of the infected varieties compared to the uninfected.