Influence of Meloidogyne incognita and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum alone and in combined inoculations on Mentha arvensis

Sequential, simultaneous and single inoculation of Meloidogyne incognita (5000 J2/5 kg soil) and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (3 g mycelium/5 kg soil) had negative effect on Mentha arvensis cv. Gomti. The highest reduction in shoot-root/sucker dry weight, oil yield, chlorophyll, total phenol and total sugar was observed in plants inoculated simultaneously with the nematode and fungus followed by nematode inoculation seven days prior to fungus and fungus inoculated seven days prior to nematode, respectively. Highest reproduction rate of M. incognita and root-knot index was observed in plants inoculated with the nematode alone, whereas, highest roots/suckers infection by the fungus was observed in plants inoculated simultaneously with the nematode and fungus.