Incidence of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Okra in District Layyah of the Punjab, Pakistan

A systemic survey was conducted to assess the reliable estimate of nematodes and their infestation level with okra plants from twelve grower's fields located within three major vegetable production localities of District Layyah. From each locality, four sampling sites were selected randomly and twenty samples of root and soil were taken. Nematode population in 20g of roots and 100cm(3) of soil samples was determined by the sieving-cum-modified Baermann funnel techniques. Meloidogyne incognita were the predominant species in all surveyed localities. Other plant parasitic nematode genera identified were Pratylenchus, Aphelenchus, Criconema, Helicotylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Longidorusand Xiphinema. The incidence of infestation of root knot nematode 86, 85 and 87% in the okra production areas of Layyah, Karor and Chobara, respectively. The incidence ranged from 70 to 95% with an average of 82.5%. The gall index ranged from 4 to 5 with a mean of 4.5 with maximum gall size. Both incidence and gall index varied from field to field and within the fields from each locality. This survey yielded the first report of Meloidogyne spp. infestation and other nematodes in vegetable production area of Layyah.