Screening of Black Pepper Cultivars for Resistance to Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

The study aimed to find out the source of resistance against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in different black pepper cultivars. The experiment was conducted in the nursery of Plantation Crop Garden, Biswanath College of Agriculture, AAU, Biswanath Chariali, Assam during kharif season 2025. Plastic pots of 1000 cc capacity were filled with sterilized soil, sand and cow dung mixture in the ratio of 2:1:1. After filling of pots a single rooted cutting of six different black pepper cultivars were planted in each pot. The pots were arranged in completely randomized design with five replications for each cultivar. Fifteen day after planting each plant was inoculated with freshly hatched second stage juveniles of M. incognita @1 J2/cc soil. Two months after inoculation plants were uprooted and number of galls and egg masses per root system was recorded. Number of galls per root system is more than 31 in all the cultivars viz. Panniyur-1, Panniyur-2, Panniyur-3, Karimunda, Doddiga and Local. Hence the cultivars were categorized as susceptible. From this experiment it can be concluded that no one cultivar found to be resistant against root-knot nematode. In absence of resistant and moderately resistant cultivars other ecofriendly nematode management methods can be incorporated in endemic areas.