Host-status of cucumis myriocarpus to meloidogyne incognita.

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.