TECHNIQUES FOR SCREENING BLACK PEPPER GERMPLASM TO RADOPHOLUS SIMILIS AND MELOlDOGYNE INCOGNITA

Abstract

Techniques for screening black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) germplasm to Radopholus similis and Meloidogyne incognita were standardised. An inoculum of 250 nematodes and recording root lesion index five months after inoculation or an inoculum of 150 nematodes and recording root lesion index six months after inoculation for R. similis and an inoculum of 1000 second stage juvenlies and recording root-knot index four months after inoculation for M. incognita were found optimum for screening black pepper germplasm for their reaction to these nematodes.