Relationship between Rice Root-Knot Nematode and Growth and Grain Yield of Wheat

Abstract

Rice root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola Golden & Brichfield) is one of the most important disease in wheat grown in the Northeastern Thailand. Yield is decreased due to its infect on root systems. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between intial population of the rice root-knot nematode and growth and grain yield of wheat (cv Phang 60) in shade house. Population of the namatode were 0, 500, 1,000, 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 juveniles/kg soil. The results showed that, at any 0opulation the namatode caused decreasing in grain size. The relationship between the intial population and grain yield was linear. In conclusion, the population of only 500 juveniles/kg soil can cause decreasing in grain yield. Therefore, this result can be used as a guide line to determine the population of nematode in teh field before planting.