Control of the Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita of Chilli, Capsicum annuum, by Crop Rotation

Abstract

Crops were grown at Sisaket Horticulture Research Centre during October 1987 to September 1989 in experimental plots where the root - knot namatode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood (M. incognita), had previously increased. The population of M. incognita per 500 g of soil was 2}000 second stage larvae (L2). Cropping patterns were Chilli - Chilli (C-C), chilli-Peanut (C-P), Chilli - Baby corn (C-B), Chilli-Shallot (C-S), Chilli - Garlic (C-G) and Chilli - Asparagus (C-A). Growing chilli as the first crop increased the nematode population to 3}870 L2 per 500 g of soil from 2,000 L2 for the initial population and decreased yields by 24.87%. After harvesting chilli six more crops were grown. A crop sequence of C-C increased L2 of M. incognita to o4}020 and lowered the yields to 46.34 %. shallot and garlic after chilli (C-S, C-G) decreased both L2 of thenematode and the yields of the crops. Chilli followed by peanut (C-P) gave complete control of M. incognita and a single L2 was not found. The patterns of C-B also decreased M. incognita to 1}218 and C-A to 84 L2, but yields did not differ statistically between treated and non -treated plots. However, C-P increased the population of Criconemella ornata while C- A increased Rotylenchulus reniformis.