Varietal Response of Tomato to the Interaction of Salinity and Meloidogyne incognita Infection.

Response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars to a range of conductivity levels was tested in the presence and absence of Meloidogyne incognita. The conductivity levels were produced by appropriate adjustment of a 1:1 solution of sodium chloride and calcium chloride. The growth of M. incognita resistant ('Beefmaster' and 'Atkinson') and susceptible ('Hunts 2580' and 'Ronita') tomato plants was inversely related to soil salinity between EC(e) 0 and 5 mmhos/cm. Nematode inoculation of salt-stressed plants significantly reduced plant height, fresh and dry weight, number of flowers, and fruit weight in most cultivars. In Hunts 2580, flower number and fruit weight increased; apparently flower production shifted from determinate to indeterminate, with negative implications for mechanical harvesting. Nematode reproduction on susceptible varieties also decreased with increase in salinity.