Abstract:
A survey on infestations o f root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. was conducted on
seven vegetable crops, i.e., bitter-gourd, bottle-gourd, egg-plant, chili, okra, pumpkin and
snake-gourd, at 13 localities representing vegetable growing regions in Matara District in
Sri Lanka. At least 10 individual root systems o f each vegetable crop per locality were
assessed at the mature stage for the percentage o f root system galled and a root-gall
severity was determined. Meloidogyne species were identified based on the morphology o f
perennial pattern o f mature females. Meloidogyne infestations were detected only on
bitter-gourd, egg-plant, chili and okra. Three Meloidogyne species namely M. incognita,
M. javanica and M. arenaria, were identified. However, species composition differed with
respect to vegetable crops and locality. All the three Meloidogyne species were detected
on okra at Denipitiya and Malimbada, and on bitter-gourd at Welipitiya as mixed
populations. The frequency o f occurrence o f Meloidogyne species also varied among the
vegetable crops tested. Overall, M. incognita was found to be the most prevalent species
detected on all infested vegetable crops. The highest root gall severity was recorded on
okra and egg-plant.
