Field study on the effect of different planting periods on root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. infecting tomato

An experiment was conducted in root-knot nematode infested field to evaluate the effect of different planting periods on root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. in tomato. The tomato seedlings [var. Gujarat tomato 2 (GT 2)] were raised in a nursery on different dates and transplanted on the first and third week from September to December consequently four years in the Kharif season in RBD with three replicates. The observations on the Initial Nematode Population (INP) from each plot before transplanting, root-knot index (RKI: 0–5) and plant height at harvest, and fruit yield (kg/plot) were recorded. The four years of pooled data recorded the first week of November (T₅) planting period consistently gave maximum yield and comparatively minimum RKI compared with other treatments. The present study revealed that the first week of November is the most suitable period for planting tomoto in root-knot nematode infested fields of middle Gujarat.