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EFFECT OF MELOIDOGYNE GRAMINICOLA ON ROOT GROWfH OF RICE AND ECHINOCHLOA COLONUM L.

M.H. SOOMRO* AND N.G.M. HAGUE

Abstract: The effect of Meloidogyne graminicola on root morphology and growth of rice and the Echinochloa colonum grass was investigated under glasshouse conditions. Invasion by nematode juveniles reduced total root length and the length of axes and laterals in both hosts, while the number of axes (nodal) in infested rice roots increased due to nematode invasion. On infested roots of both hosts, the laterals grew in clusters and appeared earlier than on uninfested roots. When a root was invaded by the nematodes and a gall formed, the growth of the root was checked and secondary laterals grew on the gall. Upto 11.6% in rice and 21:3% of total laterals in E. colonum were grrowing, on the actual galls formed due to nematode invasion.

Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Reading RG6 2AT, England.
Crop Desease Research Institute, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, P. O. Box 1031, Islamabad, Pakistan.