Root-knot Nematode affecting U-Morok plants
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sagolsem Bigyan
Imphal, November 14 2022:
There is report of king chilli locally known as U-Mo-rok plants grown in the state being affected by Meloidogyne incognita, also known as Root-knot Nematode, a plant-parasitic roundworm belonging to the Heteroderidae family.
According to Dr Kshetrimayum Sumita, principal investigator of ICAR-AICRP (Nematodes in Agriculture) at College of Agriculture, CAU, Imphal, report has been received of U-Morok plants grown in the state getting infected by Root-knot Nematode, thereby impacting production of the crop.
In an exclusive interview, Dr Sumita told The People's Chronicle that U-Morok, also known as ghost pepper or ghost chilli, is a popular kitchen item and a profitable crop in the state.
U-Morok belongs to Solanaceae family's Capsicum genus and it is abundantly available in the state.
People consume it both in fresh and dry form or used as spice in cooking food and also for medicinal purpose, she said.
According to Dr Sumita, U-Morok plants growing in the state are now being attacked by Root-knot Nematode, which is very small parasitic living organism that cannot be detected by naked eyes.
All Nematodes are not harmful but Root-knot Nematode or Meloidogyne incognita can be harmful to plants in a big way, if infected.
Leaves of U-Morok plants affected by Root-knot Nematode will become yellowish and dry while size of the affected plants will get smaller and dry with growth of small patches.
Such plants will not be able to produce yield for a long time.
Someone might think that shortage of water and fertilizer led to the phenomenon but there is high chance of such plants affected by Root-knot Nematodes.
If the roots of U-Morok plants bear small patches and swelling, it is quite certain that the plants have being affected by Root-knot Nematodes, Dr Sumita explained.
Regarding the protective measures, Dr Sumita suggested plantation of marigold or mustard plant in the area as alpha-terthienyl chemical produced from marigold plant can kill Root-knot Nematode at the roots of U-Morok plants.
Mustard plants also release glycosynolates chemical, which suppresses Root-knot Nematode and prevents the parasite from affecting host plants.
Root-knot Nematodes are attached to roots of host plants in swollen manner and there are thousands of Root-knot Nematodes in one swollen portion of the root, she said.
While informing that the second stage of juvenile Root-knot Nematodes is the most vulnerable stage, Dr Sumita said that Root-knot Nematodes have pin-point stylet at this stage and remove nutrients from the plants thereby leaving the plants dry and reducing crop production.
While informing that Root-knot Nematodes can spread from one place to another, Dr Sumita further said there is high chance of tools used in digging soil where Root-knot Nematodes are present spreading the parasitic roundworm to another place.
To prevent spread of Root-knot Nematodes, soil need to be exposed to sunlight properly and requires application of mustard oil and neem cake 15 days before plantation of U-Morok saplings.
Apart from this, application of 1 gm 'minitz' per sapling on the soil on the day of plantation is required, she said, adding 'minitz' should be applied around the sapling and not directly to the sapling.
Marigold and mustard seeds can also be applied at this time, she added.
This article is published as part of the media fellowship programme on Scientific Journalism sponsored by the Public Relation and Media Management Cell of CAU, Imphal .
Enquiry, if any, about the article could be done through Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information and Publicity officer, PRMM cell or through [email protected] .