Studies on solanum nigrum infected with root-knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

Abstract

Agricultural soils not only support plants but also harbour a large number of plant pathogenic organisms, of which plant parasitic nematodes are of great significance. The nematodes attack vegetables, ornamental and medicinal plants, all over the world leading to causing huge economic losses. Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most prevalent nematode pest of vegetables and other crops in Uttar Pradesh, a province in the northern part of India. Meloidogyne incognita causes morphological, anatomical, and physiological attractions in the plant and the affected tissues. Root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. attacks the underground parts of the plants, where they induce the development of abnormal growth on the stem and the root. These changes involve root galling, giant cell formation, and disruption in translocation of water and mineral nutrients. In some plants larger galls are produced at the base of the stem in addition to root galls. The nematodes after its second-stage of molting enter the developing roots, migrate intercellularly and induces giant cell. One of the major anatomical abnormality after infection is disturbance in the vascular system. The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood has been reported to cause huge monetary losses to the crops belonging to medicinal plants, vegetables and some fruit plants as well as wild plants throughout the world. In Ayurveda, an Indian Traditional System of medicines, about 2,000 plant species are considered to have medicinal properties, on the other hand Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists over 5,700 traditional medicines, most of which are of plant origin. The family Solanaceae is one of the most important families in plant Kingdom, because it is one of the largest families comprising more than 3,000 species. Its members are enthobotanically important and extensively utilized by humans all over the world. Solanum nigrum Linn., a dicotyledonous medicinal wild plant belonging to the family Solanaceae