Interactive effect of Fusarium solani, Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne javanica on tomato

The interactive effect of Fusarium solani, Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne javanica was studied in tomato var. Pusa Ruby in a glasshouse pot experiment. Plant growth was significantly affected when M. javanica, R. reniformis and F. solani were inoculated either alone or in combinations with maximum reduction in concomitant inoculation of the 3 pathogens. In inoculations with two pathogen only, maximum damage was with M. javanica and F. solani and least with sequential inoculation of F. solani preceded with R. reniformis. The rate of multiplication of M. javanica was higher than R. reniformis when present individually but in combined inoculation both the nematodes were adversely affected by each other, with M. javanica more than R. reniformis. Fusarium solani also inhibited multiplication of both the nematodes in sequential as well as in concomitant inoculations. The percentage of root-rot increased in plants inoculated either concomitantly or sequentially with either of the nematode species.