Short Communication: Interactive Association of fungus and root-knot nematodes on Sarnalli crop (Ipomea Reptans)

Plants develop close association with many soil microorganisms especially with fungi and nematodes under field conditions that are either beneficial or harmful to plants. (Goswami et al., 2000) The fungus nematode interactions are numerous, varied and provide open field for significant research. (Goswami and Mittal, 2002) Fungus is an essential component of the interacting system of fungus—nematode complex disease and plays an important role in the disease etiology. Since the publication of Atkinson’s report (1892) that Fusarium wilt of cotton was more severe in the presence of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) than in its absence, a large volume of data has been accumulated to date which firmly establishes the involvement of plant-parasitic nematodes in interactions with fungal plant pathogens on various crop plants. (Mittal and Goswami, 2002) In the present paper an attempt has been made to study the fungi associated with root-knot nematodes from trans-Yamuna river belt of Delhi infecting Sarnalli crop (Ipomea reptans).