Effect of initial inoculum levels of Meloidogyne incognita on bittergourd and round melon.

Pathogenecity of Meloidogyne incognita on bittergourd and round melon was tested by inoculating digerent levels of second-stage juvenile (J2) of the Meloidogyne incognita. Significant reduction in the plant growth characters were observed but the final nematode population increased with increase in the inoculum levels. The damaging threshold in bittergourd was found to be one J2/g of soil as against 10 J2/g in round melon.