Diseases of fruit plantation medicinal and aromatic crops (2+1)

Citrus root knot

Causal organism: Meloidogyne incognita
Symptoms

• Aerial symptoms: yellowing of leaves, reduction in plant growth and yield.
• Below ground symptoms: Formation of galls on roots.
• The nematode is sedentary endoparasite, feeds on the affected parts and complete its life cycle on the same gall.
Etiology

• Primary source of inoculum: Infected soil and plant part.
• Secondary source of inoculum: Spread through planting materials and agricultural operations.
Epidemiology

• Optimum soil moisture(50-60%), sandy loam soil, neutral PH, susceptible host etc are the factors
Management

• Deep ploughings reduce the inoculum load in the soil
• Application of carbofuran (10-15gm / 5-10 kg FYM) in the soil.
• Application of VAM( Vesicular arbescular mycorrhiza)
• Application of Neem cake @ 5 kg/ plant.
• Soil type: Clay loam soil reduces nematode multiplication.
• Drip irrigation avoids movement of nematodes from plant to plant.
• Use of resistance varieties.