Management of Root Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita Affecting Chickpea, Cicer arietinum for Sustainable Production

Management of phytoparasitic nematodes with plant products has been supported in favour of the increased awareness of environmental hazards affecting both flora and fauna associated with pesticides. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to control the effect of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita on the plant growth parameters of chickpea, Cicer arietinum L . var. “Avarodhi”, a highly proteinaceous crop by the different concentrations of leaf extract of Persian lilac, Melia azedarach. Results revealed that the plants treated with higher concentrations of leaf extracts of M. azedarach showed the least impact of M. incognita as compared to the other concentrations. Plants inoculated alone with the 1000 second stage juveniles (J2) of M. incognita showed highest reduction in plant growth parameters of shoot and root length (cm), fresh and dry weight (g), number of flowers and pods, total chlorophyll content and nitrate reductase activity with increased root knot index. Plants treated with lower concentrations of leaf extract also showed significant control over the reduction in plant growth parameters. These treatments also reduce the root knot index to a significant level. These studies may go a long way and act as a biocontrol agent and will be an asset in the clean and pollution free environment.