Nematode diversity in vegetable ecosystems of Northern region of Kerala

Abstract

A survey was undertaken to assess the population dynamics and distribution of predatory as well as other free-living nematodes associated with vegetable crops cultivated in different Agro-Ecological Units (AEUs) of Kerala. Among the predators, Mylonchulus minor from Kozhikode district, Mylonchulus minor, and Iotonchus indicus from Wayanad district. Mylonchulus minor and Iotonchus indicus from Kannur district; Mylonchulus minor and Iotonchus indicus, Neoactinolaimus sp., Proleptonchus sp. from Kasaragod district. Among plant parasitic nematodes the following nematodes were recorded from different vegetable crop rhizosphere and different locations viz., Rotylenchulus reniformis (chilli from Mattanur, Kannur district), snake gourd from Poinachi, Kasaragod district), Pratylenchus sp. (chilli from Mogral, Kasaragod district), Hoplolaimus sp. (amaranthus from Muttathody, Kasaragod district), Hirschmaniella sp. (amaranthus from Muttathody, Kasaragod district), Criconema sp. (amaranthus from Badriya Nagar, Kasaragod district), Hemicriconemoides sp. (vegetable crops from Kaynoth, Kasaragod district), Tylenchorhynchus sp. (amaranthus from Poinachi, Kasaragod district) and Aphelenchus avenae (vegetable crops from Eruvatty, Kannur district)