Biomass of Meloidogyne graminicola and associated roots: A determinant to symptom production in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

The biomass of invading developing stages Meloidogyne grminicola (219μg) 27 days after sowing in variety JB-206 of barley increased to 2743 μg on 79th day when adult females were in advance egg laying stage with an increase of approximately 125-fold. Such plants exhibited acute stunting without heading. The nematode-to-root biomass ratios were inversely proportional to the degree of symptoms. Plants died at a ratio of 1:227 with severe stunting, yellowing and wilting, whereas, symptoms changed markedly at ratios less than 1: 1878, however, the ratios greater than this did not show severe symptoms. Reduction in shoot biomass and its length was associated with symptoms advancement. Restriction of growth stages was also noticed with increase in nematode biomass and symptoms severity and it was up to seedling stage having high nematode biomass, although, comparatively healthy plants of the same age were advanced to tillering stage. © 2017, Nematological Society of India. All rights reserved.