Community analysis and diversity of plant parasitic nematodes associated with litchi plantations in North Tripura district

During March, 2007 to July, 2007, a total of 60 sites at four widely separated litchi plantations of 15-20 years old were sampled for qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant parasitic nematode communities. A total of nine species under seven genera were identified from soil and associated root samples of the litchi plants. Out of nine species, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Helicotylenchus indicus, Tylenchorhynchus leviterminalis and Xiphinema sp. were new records of association with litchi plants from Tripura state and also from north-east India. Results of the community analysis showed that out of nine plant parasitic nematode species, Hemicriconemoides litchi, Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne incognita were the most abundant, frequent, prominent and important nematode species in all of the four litchi plantations in North Tripura district. On the basis of total biomass of nematodes, these three species were also abundant and dominant in comparison to other six species. Out of four litchi plantations, Choraibari and Panisagar plantations in Dharmanagar sub-division showed highest species diversity followed by Nabincherra and Chantail plantations.