Susceptibility of six tomato cultivars to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

Six tomato cultivars Moneymaker, Beefsteak, Roma, Summertaste, Mini Roma and Smallfry were tested for their susceptibility to root- knot nematodes at inoculum levels of 200, 400, 600 Juveniles (J2) per pot. All were found to be susceptible to varying degrees as egg masses were present in all with Moneymaker and Roma being the most susceptible and Mini Roma, the least susceptible. The inoculum levels had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the number of galls and plant weights. The gall numbers and plant weights was negatively correlated, with the highest gall numbers and lowest plant weights recorded at the highest inoculum level in all cultivars except in Mini Roma in which there was little variation in gall numbers and plant weights.