Effect of methanolic extract of sargassum wightii greville on a host plant infected by root knot nematode meloidogyne incognita Kofoid and white 1919 chitwood 1949

Abstract

Among various pests which damage crops, plant parasitic nematodes newlinepose a formidable pest problem for different crops. Nematodes, the hidden newlineenemy is one of the important factors limiting the crop production in most newlinetropical and sub-tropical area of the world. (Sasser and Freckman, 1987; newlineHaseeb and shukla, 2001) The annual global loss in agriculture due to damage newlineby plant parasitic nematodes has been estimated at greater than US$100 billion newline(Perry, 1996) The root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp is one of the most prevalent newlinecrop pest world wide (Sasser, 1989; Stirling et al, 1992; Oka et al., 2000). newlineAmong the various species of Meloidogyne, Meloidogyne incognita is newlinedistributed world wide more than 52% (Hadisoeganda and Sesser, 1982). newlineInterfering with anchorage and absorption, the two primary functions of roots newlineof plants, the root knot nematode M.incognita summon our attention in the field newlineof agricultural economy. Their economic effects in the agriculture are well newlinedocumented (Webster, 1972). In India, this species has caused loss of yield and newlinecrop failures to an estimated 30-50% of the total production (Jain, 1992). newline