Interaction of Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici on tomato

Effects of Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, on the plant growth and yield of tomato using sequentially and concomitantly inoculates in field plots were evaluated. The nematode and fungus acting alone caused root galls and foliage wilt, respectively and reduced the plant growth and yield. Fusarial will become considerably severe in the presence of root-knot nematode, especially in pre (38.1%) or concomitant (14.3%) nematode exacerbated the wilting symptoms. The plants inoculated with nematode before the fungus (pre-inoculation) exhibited (41.8%) decline in yield, followed by concomitant treatment (33.3%), Gall formation and egg mass production of the nematode was adversely affected in the presence of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and their lowest number were noticed in pre and concomitant treatment. Fecundity was decreased by 36.8% due to fungus pre-inoculation. Soil population of the nematode also showed similar response and was lowest in fungus pre-inoculation treatment. Rhizospheric population of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was, however, stimulated in the presence of nematode. Greatest increase in fungal propagules was oberved in those treatments, which caused maximum supperssions of plant growth and yield. A negative correlation was noticed between nematode and fungus population in the rhizosphere of inoculated plants.