Interaction effect of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and wilt fungus, Fusarium solani in cucumber

The interaction between root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and wilt fungus, Fusarium solani was studied in cucumber under glasshouse condition. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect and pathogenesis of nematode and fungus individually as well as various combinations viz., inoculation of nematode 7 days prior to fungus, inoculation of fungus 7 days prior to nematode, simultaneous inoculation of nematode and fungus. The results showed that significant reduction of plant growth parameters were observed in combination of nematode inoculated 7 days prior to fungus followed by simultaneous inoculation. Nematode population in the soil, number of galls, number of females and number of egg masses in the roots were higher in the treatment nematode alone followed by nematode inoculated 7 days prior to fungus. Though, nematode reproduction was high in the treatment of nematode alone, the disease incidence was more in nematode inoculated 7 days prior to fungus where the nematode acts as predisposer for other pathogens including fungus. The study was concluded that the effect of nematode inoculated 7 days prior to fungus shows high per cent of wilt disease incidence in cucumber than other combinations.