Root-knot disease of ashwagandha Withania somnifera and its eco-friendly cost effective management

Pandey, R.; Kalra, A.

Root-knot disease of ashwagandha Withania somnifera and its eco-friendly cost effective management

2003

Pandey, R. | Kalra, A.(Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow (India))

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) is an important medicinal plant and a major source of alkaloid and steroidal lactones (withanolide), which are regularly used in pharmaceutical industries. Plant growth retardation and gall formation in the root system indicated the presence of root-knot nematode, which was confirmed as Meloidogyne incognita race-2. Green house trials were conducted to determine the influence of different inoculum levels of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood on growth and yield of W. somnifera. Various organic materials viz., Neem compound, Mentha distillate, Murraya koengii distillate, Artemisia annua marc and Vermicompost, bio-agents viz., Glomus aggregatum and Trichoderma harzianum were tested individually as well as in different combinations for the management of root-knot nematode, M. incognita on W. somnifera. The experiment results indicated that most of the bio-agents and organic materials alone as well as in combination were root-knot nematode suppressive and enhanced the growth and yield of W. somnifera. Maximum root-knot suppression was noticed in vermicompost and T. harzianum combination followed by Mentha distillate and G. aggregatum. Maximum increase in plant yield was noticed when the soil was amended with Mentha and Murraya koengii distilled waste along with bio-agents.

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