Incidence of root-knot nematode in winter weeds of tomato in Malakand division – Pakistan

This study was conducted to find the incidence of root knot nematode (M. javanica) in winter weeds of tomato at the root knot infested areas of Dargai and Jabban in Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. For this purpose survey was conducted on 20 fields of each region and the fifteen weed plants were checked for galls caused by M. javanica on their roots. Weeds samples from these regions were bagged and labeled properly and brought to the Department of Weed Science, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar Pakistan for identification. The nematode was also identified by perennial pattern. Galls were observed on commonly occurring fifteen weeds. Incidence of M. javanica on Cannabis sativa was at the range of 9.9-11.9%, while it was 33.3% on Digitaria sanguinalis. The highest incidence of M. javanica were recorded on the roots of Fumeria indica (21.05-43.47%). Moreover the incidence of M. javanica on Rumex crispus and Melilotus indica was 22.72% and 22.13% respectively. However no galls (No incidence) of M. javanica were found on Asphodelus tenuifolius. Our finding demonstrates that M. javanica is a damaging pathogen of winter weeds of tomato in Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.