Study on Morphological and Biochemical Characteristics of Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia) Infected with the Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effects of Meloidogyne incognita on Psoralea corylifolia at different inoculum levels viz., 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000 J2 per plant in each pot containing 2.5 kg sterilized soil with complete randomized block design. Results indicated significant reduction in all the growth and yield parameters of the plants in comparison to non-inoculated control plants. Biochemical parameters such as photosynthetic pigments viz., Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents and enzymatic activity like nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase were significantly decreased when inoculum levels were increased. Highest and significant (P≤ 0.05) reduction was noticed at 2,000 J2, in comparison to healthy plants. The number of nematodes in the infected root was higher and the size of the galls was larger at high inoculums levels. The root and the soil populations of second stage-juveniles indicated that M. incognita reproduced successfully on the roots of P. corylifolia. The damages caused due to severe infection might lead to death of the affected plant.