Screening of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm for resistance to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

The root-knot nematode is one of the major limiting factors
affecting lentil growth and yield. In the present study, 300
accessions of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) were screened
to find source of resistance to root-knot nematode,
Meloidogyne incognita. Among them, nine accessions:
EC223269, EC076551-C, EC267577-D, EC267555, EC255504,
EC267690, IC282663, IC559890 and IC559673 were resistant,
while 291 were susceptible to M. incognita. Root gall
formation was reduced by 94-98% in the resistant
accessions as compared to susceptible (IC560206). The
nematode penetration into roots and egg-mass formation
in all resistant accessions of lentil were significantly lowered
compared to the susceptible accession (IC560206). Results
suggest that the disease resistance in lentil accessions
may be related to both post-infectional (nematode growth
and development) as well as pre-infectional (penetration
and establishment) defense mechanisms. Variations in
nematode penetration into roots, root gall formation and
egg mass formation in the resistant accessions may reflect
their genetic differences related to the nematode resistance
and their planting could provide a useful tool to manage
root-knot nematodes in lentil crop.