Estimation of prevalence and population densities of plant parasitic nematodes associated with twelve fruit trees in Pakistan.
Nayba, Javed N., Khan S. A., Ullah Z., Khan H. U.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology 24 : 63-68
Abstract : This investigation was planned to check the association of plant parasitic nematodes with fruit trees. Both root and soil samples were collected from fruit trees grown in campus and field areas of University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. The plant parasitic nematodes were isolated and then identified. Their number of juveniles in roots and soil samples were calculated. Population density and prevalence of all the nematodes isolated was also determined. Out of total 83 samples of fruit trees, root knot nematode (genus Meloidogyne) was observed in 59 samples, lesion nematode (genus Pratylenchus) in 39, spiral nematodes (genus Helicotylenchus) in 30 samples and reniform nematode (genus Rotylenchulus) in 15 samples of twelve different fruit trees. The prevalence of root knot nematode in apple, peach and olive and of dagger nematode (genus Xiphinema) in apple, grapes, peach, blueberries and olive was calculated100%. Population density of root knot nematode was found 100% in both root and soil samples of peach followed by Helicotylenchus with 61% and 65% population densities in root and soil samples of blueberry respectively.