Abstract:
Host-status of wild cucumber (Cucumis myriocarpus) to the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne
incognita) was evaluated under microplot conditions. The 30-cm plastic diameter pots were
placed into holes leaving 10-cm above the soil surface. Pots were filled to the 10-cm mark (soil
surface) using 3:1 sand: Hygromix (v/v). Two-week old seedlings of C. myriocarpus were
transplanted and irrigated with 2 L tapwater every other day.
On the transplanting day, treatments were initiated by inoculating seedling with 0, 25, 125, 625
and 3 125 juveniles of M. incognita. The treatments were arranged in a randomised complete
block design, with 10 replications. The experiment was terminated 56 days after initiating the
study.
At all levels of inoculation, the reproductive factor (Pf/Pi) was below unity, suggesting that
nematodes failed to reproduce on this plant. Gall formation occurred, but the galls did not
develop. Nematode had no effect on shoot and fruit weight, but significantly reduced stem
diameter.
Results of this study suggested that C. myriocarpus was a non-host to M. incognita. The failure
of the galls to develop suggested that this plant is resistant to M. incognita.
