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SECTION-II

Screening of different varieties of tomato against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, AM fungus Glomus fasciculatum and biological nitrogen

fixer Azotobacter chroococcum in relation to growth parameters, disease incidence and mycorrhization

INTRODUCTION

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most popular and widely

grown vegetable crops across the world covering an area of 4528519 ha. According to

FAOSTAT World, total production of tomato is estimated about 129649883 tons in 2008,

whereas in India its production is estimated about 1149000 tons in 2009. The crop is quite

remunerative and the farmers are getting rich dividends by its cultivation. In India, despite a

large area under cultivation, market normally experience shortage or high cost of tomato

which is probably due to low productivity of this crop under local climatic conditions.

There are several constraints on the successful cultivation of tomato. Apart from

horticultural constraints, attack by pests and diseases is an important factor responsible for

lower yields. Among these, root-knot nematode is one of major pathogen of the crop. Root-

knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. are widespread, destructive, most dangerous and difficult

to control in crop cultivation system and limit fruit production worldwide (Fourie and

McDonald, 2000; Kaskavalci, 2007; Sharma et al., 2008). Root-knot nematode

(Meloidogyne spp.) infects a wide range of crops particularly the vegetables and cause

losses upto 80% in heavily infested fields. Short life cycle of six to eight weeks enables this

nematode to survive well in the presence of a suitable host. Meloidogyne species alone

cause 90-100% yield losses in tomato crop (Shahid et al., 2007; Olabiyi, 2008). Yield losses

in tomato ranging from 28-70% have been reported by various researchers (Ibrahim et al.,

2000; Rajinderan et al., 2003).

Biological control method is thought to be environmently safe and used for the

control of root-knot nematodes in eco-friendly manner. Among the various biocontrol

agents, AM fungi are being widely used and considered to be essential for increasing the

sustainability of agricultural system (Gianinazzi and Schuepp, 1994). They represent the

most efficient nutrient uptake facilitators particularly in nutrient deficient soils (Barea et al.,

2002; Giovannetti et al., 2002). AM fungi vary in their physiological interaction with

different hosts and hence the efficiency of the association of both depends on the plants

species as well as the fungus. Thus, AM fungi differ in their ability to promote the growth

of a particular host (Haripriya and Sekharan, 2002). This has led to the introduction of the

concept of ‘efficient’ or ‘effective strains’. Generally those fungi that infest and colonize the

root system more rapidly are considered as ‘efficient’. The information to select efficient

AM fungi for inoculating tomato varieties to achieve better growth and resistance is still

meagre.

Besides AM fungi, other biofertilizers are one of the useful and important tools in

the hands of scientists or researchers which can be used for the enhancement of growth and

productivity of different crops. These biofertilizers are the carrier-based preparations

containing mainly effective strains of micro-organisms in sufficient number, useful for

nitrogen fixation. Biofertilizers play a key role in enhancement of nitrogen element which is

essential for synthesis of chlorophyll, amino acids, etc.

The damage caused by nematodes to plants is directly proportional to their

population densities in soil and their reproduction potential on the plant (Barker and Olthof,

1976). The minimal density that causes a measurable reduction of plant growth or yield is

regarded as the damage threshold density (Barker and Nusbaum, 1971). The threshold

density varies with nematode species, race, plant variety and environmental condition

(Barker and Olthof, 1976). Infection of efficient and non-efficient host by low densities of

Meloidogyne species may enhance growth and yield (Madamba et al., 1965; Olthof and

Potter, 1972), have no effect (Madamba et al., 1965) or cause severe damage (Barker and

Olthof, 1976). Several workers conducted screening procedure to evaluate the susceptible,

resistant, moderately resistant, and highly resistant, varieties against different inoculum

levels of Meloidogyne incognita. Mani and Zidgali (1995) screened twenty one tomato

varieties in pots against Meloidogyne incognita and found that none of the varieties was

resistant to the nematode. Similarly, Zheng De et al. (2010) screened 14 tomato varieties

against Meloidogyne incognita. Various other workers (Xiuhong et al., 2010; Sajid et al.,

2011) screened different crops against Meloidogyne species. Sherif et al. (2007) conducted

pot experiment to determine the influence of different inoculum levels (0, 250, 500, 1000

and 2000 nematodes eggs/850g soil/pot) of Meloidogyne incognita on population density of

the nematode and host reaction of two Solanaceous plants cv. Castle Rock or Pepper cv.

Anaheim under glasshouse conditions. The present results revealed that damage increased

as the inoculum levels of Meloidogyne incognita increased corresponds the cultivar Castle

Rock was found more susceptible to Meloidogyne incognita.

The present study was conducted with the following objectives:

(a) To quantify the effect of different inoculum levels of Meloidogyne incognita, Glomus

fasciculatum and Azotobacter chroococcum on different tomato varieties and to find

out the most susceptible variety of the crop infested with the Meloidogyne incognita.

(b) To find out the most efficient inoculum levels of AM fungi and Azotobacter for better

improvement of plant growth.

(c) To find out the effect of biofertilizers on physiological and morphological parameters

of tomato varieties and to select the tomato variety for further experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Maintenance of host plant

For screening of tomato varieties against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne

incognita, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus fasciculatum and biofertilizer (Azotobacter

chroococcum), seeds of different varieties of tomato crop have been brought from National

seed corporation, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. Ten varieties

such as Pusa Ruby, Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa Uphar, Pusa 120, Best of All, Raina, Rupali,

Rashmi, Marglobe and Vaishali were used for screening purposes. Seeds of these varieties

were surface sterilized separately with 0.01% mercuric chloride and raised individually in

clay pots of 25 cm diameter filled with steam sterilized soil at the ratio of 3:1. Necessary

weeding and watering were done whenever required. Three-week old seedlings were

transplanted in 15 cm diameter clay pots filled with 1 kg sterilized soil.

Establishment of root-knot nematode culture

In this study, root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White)

Chitwood was used. Field populations of Meloidogne incognita were collected from tomato

(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Species of root-

knot nematode infecting roots of tomato or egg plant in the fields were tentatively

identified on the basis of characteristics of perineal patterns of the females. Roots infected

with Meloidogyne incognita were chopped and added to the pots containing sterilized field

soil and the tomato plants raised earlier as mentioned above (3 weeks old) were transplanted

and the pots were kept at randomized manner in glasshouse at 28o±2oC. Subculturing was

done approximately at every three months by inoculating new tomato seedlings with at least

15 egg-masses, each obtained from a single egg-mass culture in order to maintain sufficient

inoculums for further experimental studied.

Identification of the root-knot nematode

The identity of the root-knot nematode was confirmed by studying the

characteristics of perineal patterns of females after conducting North Carolina differential

host test (Eisenback et al., 1981; Taylor and Sasser, 1978; Hartman and Sasser, 1985).

Fifteen perineal patterns of females of each single egg-mass population were prepared and

their characteristics were examined in order to identify the species (Eisenback et al., 1981).

For North Carolina differential host test (Taylor and Sasser, 1978; Hartman and

Sasser, 1985) seedlings of tomato cv. Rutgers, tobacco cv. NC95, pepper cv, California

Wonder, peanut cv, Florunner, watermelon cv Charleston grey and cotton cv. Deltapine-61

were grown in clay pots (one seedling/pot) having sterilized soil in triplicate. Two

additional replicates of tomato were included to determine the time of termination of the

test. After determining the number of second stage juvenile (J2) per ml, plants in each pot

were inoculated separately with 5000 J2. Juveniles were added to a depression made in the

soil at the time of transplanting. Inoculated plants were kept at benches in randomized

manner in glasshouse at 28±2oC. Sixty days after nematode inoculation, roots were

harvested and thoroughly washed with tap water and examined for the presence of root-

galls. Roots with very high infection were stained with Phloxin B to determine the number

of egg-masses. Number of root-galls and egg-masses were counted and GI as well as EMI

were rated on 0-5 scale where 0 = 0, 1 = 1-2, 2 = 3-10, 3 = 11-30, 4 = 31-100, 5 = more than

100 galls or egg-masses per root system (Taylor and Sasser, 1978). After the rating of the

root system, results were compared with the differential host test chart (Table 9). This

confirmed the identity of the species determined by the perineal patterns method.

Table 9. North Carolina differential host test reaction chart

Meloidogyne species

and race

Cotton cv.

Deltapine 61

Tobacco cv.

NC 95

Pepper cv.

California

Wonder

Watermelon cv.

Charlestan grey

Peanut cv.

Florunner

Tomato cv.

Rutgers

M. incognita

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3

Race 4

-

-

+

+

-

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

-

-

+

+

+

+

M. javanica- - + - + - +

M. arenaria

Race1

Race 2

-

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

M. hapla - + + - + +

+ = Susceptible, - = Resistant

Box indicate key differential host plant

Preparation of nematode inoculum

Second stage juveniles (J2) of the root-knot nematode were used as inoculum in

the present investigation. These were obtained by incubating the egg-masses collected

from the roots of tomato plants earlier maintained from single egg-mass culture of

Meloidogyne incognita. Egg-masses were placed in coarse sieve fitted with double

layered tissue paper and placed on Baermann’s funnel containing water. The sieves were

then placed in an incubator at 23±20C. The hatched juveniles (J2) were collected in a

beaker every 24 hr and fresh water added to the petriplates. Number of juveniles per ml

was standardized by counting the juvenile from ten samples. Average number of

juveniles was then calculated to represent the number of juveniles per ml of the

suspension.

Preparation of AM fungal inoculum

Collection of soil sample

Morphologically different type of spores recovered from the rhizosphere soils

and collected separately. In order to collect spores of AM fungi from each site, fifty soil

samples were collected from the various crop fields in Aligarh and adjoining areas with

the help of soil auger upto a depth of 15 cm from the rhizosphere of the plants.

Isolation of spores

Spores of different species of AM fungi were isolated by wet sieving and

decanting method (Gerdemann and Nicolson, 1963). The stepwise isolation was carried

out as follows. (i) Thorough mixing of each sample of 100g dry soil added in the beaker

containing 2000 ml distilled water was followed by homogeneous stirring (ii) The soil

solution was left for few minutes to allow the heavier particles to settle down (iii) The

supernatant muddy suspension was poured through coarse sieve (610 µ) for the removal

of large sized particles and organic debris (iv) The suspension was then passed through a

series of sieves of varied pore size, i.e. 80, 100, 150, 250 and 400 mesh, these mesh sizes

were used to retain even smaller spores of AM fungi (v) The spores obtained on sieves

were collected along with water in separate beakers (vi) The spore suspensions were

repeatedly washed with Ringers’ solution (NaCl 6g1-1, KCl 0.1g1-1 and CaCl2 0.1g1-1 in

distilled water of pH 7.4) in order to remove the adherent soil particles from the spores.

The suspension obtained was gently stirred to make the homogeneous distribution of

spores. From this suspension, one ml was taken by pipette into a counting disk

(Hawksley, UK) for counting the AM spores under stereoscopic microscope. Ten counts

were made from each suspension and average count calculated to determine the density

of spores per unit volume. Finally the number of spores per 100 g dry soil was estimated

for each crop. The following species such as G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum, G.

macrocarpum, G. constrictum and G. etunicatum were found to be of common

occurrence in the various agricultural fields of Aligarh district.

Maintenance of AM fungal culture

Pure culture of five AM fungi, viz. G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum, G.

macrocarpum, G. constrictum and G. etunicatum collected during the survey (Section I)

were raised on maize (Zea mays) grown in pots under glasshouse conditions. To raise the

maize plants, seeds were surface sterilized with 0.01% solution of mercuric chloride

(HgCl2) and sown (5 seeds per pot) in 15 cm diameter clay pots, containing sterilized soil

(66% sand, 24% silt, 8% clay, OM 20%, pH 7.5). Fifty spores of each AM fungal species

per pot were layered at 6 and 2 cm depths in 50 clay pots. Thinning was done to keep

one seedling per pot. After 125 days, the plants were uprooted and the spores were

isolated by wet sieving and decanting method from this soil and the roots were stained

and examined for AM colonization. The spores, hyphal fragments and root segments of

plants were then used for further experiments. The population of different AM fungi in

the inoculum was assessed by the most probable number method (Porter, 1979).

Maintenance of Azotobacter chroococcum culture

Charcoal based commercial culture of nitrogen fixing bacteria Azotobacter

chroococcum were obtained from the Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural

Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. For the maintenance of bioinoculant, pure culture

of Azotobacter was grown on Jenson’s medium for few days in laboratory conditions.

The spores of Azotobacter were centrifuged, washed twice in sterile distilled water and

suspended in 0.015% phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. For inoculation, one hundred gram

culture was mixed separately in 1000 ml distilled water which means 10 ml (equivalent

to 2 gm culture) were added around each seedling. One gram culture of A. chroococcum

had 4.6x106 viable cells.

Inoculation procedure of Meloidogyne incognita

For inoculation, the suspension containing J2 was taken in micropipette controller

and added near the roots of the seedlings. The holes were covered with soil after

inoculation. Nematode inoculation density consisted of uniform quantity of suspension

containing either 0, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 freshly hatched second stage juveniles

(J2)/pot.

Inoculation procedure of Glomus fasciculatum

For inoculation, inoculum of G. fasciculatum for each pot consisted of uniform

quantity of suspension containing 0, 150, 300, 600, 1200 and 2400 chlamydospores

were prepared. The chlamydospores were retrieved from the soil using wet sieving and

decanting technique (Gerdemann and Nicolson, 1963) and were placed just 3 cm below

soil surface.

Inoculation procedure of Azotobacter chroococcum

One hundred gram culture was suspended separately in 1000 ml distilled water

and 10 ml (equivalent to 1 g of culture) were added around each seedling. One gram

culture of A. chroococcum had 4.6x106 viable cells.

Experimental design

For the screening experiment, six inoculum levels of Meloidogyne incognita were

used for ten varieties of tomato crop with a view to determine the most susceptible crop.

Each treatment was replicated five times and arranged in a completely randomized block

design. A control series was also maintained wherein no inoculum of M. incognita added

to the soil. Plants were watered appropriately and maintained in a glasshouse with a

temperature ranging from 28±2oC. The plants were examined 90 days after

transplantation for determining fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits/plant, N, P,

K contents, ascorbic acid content, chlorophyll content, nematode population in soil and

roots, number of galls/root system, and number of egg-masses/root system.

For another experiment, six inoculums levels of AM fungus (G. fasciculatum)

were used for ten varieties of tomato crop. This experiment was conducted to find out the

variety which is highly supported the percent colonization of AM fungus (G.

fasciculatum). The treatments were replicated five times. A control series was also

maintained in each case wherein no AM inoculum added to the soil. Plants were watered

appropriately and maintained in a glasshouse with a temperature ranging from 28±2oC.

The plants were examined 90 days after transplantation for determining the fresh as well

as dry weights, N, P, K contents, number of fruits/plant, ascorbic acid content,

chlorophyll content, number of chlamydospores/100 g soil, internal and external

colonizations.

Screening experiment related to A. chroococcum six inoculum levels of bacteria

(Azotobacter chroococcum) were used for ten varieties of tomato crop. This experiment

was conducted to find out the variety which is highly supported by bacteria (Azotobacter

chroococcum). The treatments were replicated five times. A control series was also

maintained in each case wherein no A. chroococcum inoculum added to the soil. Plants

were watered appropriately and maintained in a glass house with a temperature ranging

from 28±2oC. The plants were examined 90 days after transplantation for determining

the fresh as well as dry weights, N, P, K contents, number of fruits/plant, ascorbic acid

content, and chlorophyll content.

Termination of experiment

The plants were harvested 90 days after inoculations and the following

parameters were studied.

Parameters studied

The following growth related parameters were determined for each treatment of

the different experiments.

1) Plant fresh weight

2) Plant dry weight

3) Number of fruits/plant

4) Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium contents

5) Ascorbic acid content

6) Chlorophyll content

7) Nematode population

8) Number of root-galls/root system

9) Number of egg-masses/root system

10) Mycorrhization in terms of external and internal colonizations

11) Number of spores recovered from 100 g dry rhizosphere soil

Plant-growth parameters

Fresh as well as dry weights of shoots and roots were recorded for each

treatment. Plants of each treatment were taken out from the pots and soil particles

adhering to roots were removed by washing in tap water and labelled properly. In the

laboratory, fresh weights of shoot and root were determined with the help of physical

balance. For determining the dry weights, plants from each treatment were wrapped in

blotting paper sheets, labelled and then dried in a hot air oven at 60oC for 24 hours

before weighing.

Root colonization and spore estimation

At the termination of the experiment root colonization in terms of internal and

external colonization and estimation of spores per 100 g soil in the same samples were

used for the assessment of root colonization as described in Section I.

Estimation of N, P and K in plants

Plant samples from each treatments were processed for estimating nitrogen (N),

phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents. For this, the leaves samples from each

variety were first dried in an oven at 80oC for 24 hours. The dried material was powdered

and the powder was passed through a sieve of 72 mesh.

Digestion of powder

The powder so obtained was digested according to the method given by Lindner

(1944). One hundred mg of the powder from each treatment was transferred separately in

50 ml kjeldahl flask, then 2 ml of pure sulphuric acid was added and the flask was heated

on Kjeldahl assembly for about 2 hours till dense fumes were given off and the content

turned black. After cooling for 15 minutes, 0.5 ml of pure 30% hydrogen peroxide was

added drop by drop and this procedure was repeated till a clear solution was obtained.

The aliquot so obtained was transferred to 100 ml volumetric flask with 3-4 washings

and the volume was made upto the capacity of flask. This was used for estimating

nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from plant material.

Estimation of Nitrogen

Nitrogen was estimated by the procedure of Lindner (1944). A 10 ml of aliquot

(obtained as described above) was transferred to 100 ml volumetric flask to which 2 ml

of 2.5N sodium hydroxide was added so as to neutralize the excess of acid. 1 ml of 10%

sodium silicate was added to prevent turbidity. The volume was made upto capacity with

double distilled water (DDW). Five ml of aliquot so treated was taken in 10 ml test tube,

followed by addition of 0.5 ml Nessler’s reagent with shaking and volume was made

upto capacity with DDW. After waiting for 5 minutes to develop the colour, the optical

density of the solution was determined at 525 nm on spectrophotometer.

A blank was prepared by adding 0.5 ml of Nessler’s reagent, 2 ml of 2.5N NaOH,

and 1 ml of 10% sodium silicate in a 10 ml graduated test tube and the final volume was

made by adding 6.5 m of DDW. The reading of N content were analysed in the unit of

mg/kg of plant material.

Nitrogen standard curve

A standard curve was prepared by taking 25 ml of ammonium sulphate in a 500

ml of volumetric flask and volume was made with DDW. From this solution 0.1, 0.2, 0.3

… 1.0 ml was taken by pipette and poured into 10 test tubes. These were then diluted

upto 5 ml. Thereafter 0.5 ml of Nessler’s reagent was added, a yellow colour was

developed in a few minutes. The solution of a standard and sample were read using

spectrophotometer. Each solution was transferred in a spectrophotometer tube and

absorbance was read at 525 nm.

A calibration curve was plotted with the optical density on x-axis and known

concentration of ammonium sulphate on y-axis.

Estimation of phosphorus

Phosphorus content was estimated by the method of Fiske and Subba Row

(1925). A 5 ml of aliquot of digested plant material was taken in 10 test tubes

accordingly. After that 1 ml of ammonium molybdic acid was added, with shaking,

followed by addition of 0.4 ml of 1-amino, 2-nephthol, 4-sulphonic acid. The colour

turned blue and the volume was made upto 10 ml with DDW. The solution was shaken

for 5 minutes and then transferred to a calorimetric tube to observe the optical density on

spectrophotometer (spectronic 1001) at 625 nm.

Simultaneously a blank prepared by taking 8.6 ml of DDW + 1 ml molybdic acid

and 0.4 ml of 1-amino 2-nephthol-4-sulphonic acid was run with each set of

determination. The data were calculated in terms of mg/kg of plant material.

Phosphorus standard curve

A standard solution was prepared by dissolving 350 mg of KH2PO4 in 500 ml of

DDW to which 10 ml of 10 N sulphuric acid was added and the final volume was made

upto 1000 ml with DDW. From this stock solution different concentration ranging from

0.1, 0.2, 0.3 …. 1.0 ml was taken in 10 different test tubes. In each test tube 1 ml of

molybdic acid and 0.4 ml of 1-amino 2 nephthol-4-sulphonic acid was added. After 5

minutes optical density was read at 625 nm on spectrophotometer (spectronic 1001). A

standard curve was prepared using different dilutions of KH2PO4 and optical density.

Estimation of potassium

Potassium content was estimated by flame photometer. A 10 ml of peroxide

digested material was taken to read potassium content. A blank (distilled water) was also

set for determination. The data were collected in terms of mg/kg of plant material.

Potassium standard curve

For preparation of standard curve, 1.91 g of KCl was diluted to 1 litre. The

resulting solution was 10 ppm of K. From this solution 1, 2, 3 … 10 ml solution was

transferred to different plastic vials respectively. The solution in each vial was diluted

upto 10 ml with the help of DDW. The diluted solution of each vial should be run

separately. A blank (DDW) was also run with each set of determination. The readings

were compared with the calibration curve plotted with the help of known dilutions of

potassium chloride solution.

Estimation of ascorbic acid content

The ascorbic acid content of fruit tissues were determined by the method based on the

reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol endophenol dye (Roe, 1954). Dried tomato fruit tissues

(0.2g) were thoroughly grounded in 0.4% oxalic acid solution and centrifuged at 3000

rpm for 15 min. and the supernatant was made upto 20ml by adding more of oxalic acid

solution. Five ml of the tissue extract was titrated against standardized indophenols

reagent. A pink colour indicated the end point which persisted only for 15 sec. the final

data were calculated in the unit of mg/100g.

Estimation of chlorophyll content

Chlorophyll content of leaf was estimated by the method of Hiscox and

Israelstam (1979). One hundred milligrams of leaf pieces were placed in a vial

containing 7 ml dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the chlorophyll was extracted into the

fluid by incubating for 60 minutes. The extract was transferred to a graduated tube and

made upto 10 ml with DMSO and assayed immediately. A sample of 3 ml chlorophyll

extract was transferred to a cuvette and the optical density (O.D.) values at 645 and 663

nm were read in spectronic-1001 spectrophotometer against a DMSO blank.

Number of root-galls and egg-masses per root system

At the time of termination of experiment, roots of harvested plants were washed under

the tap water and examined for the presence of root-galls. Number of galls per root

system were counted. Similarly for the presence of egg-masses, the roots were immersed

in a aqueous solution of Phyloxin B (0.15g/lit tap water) for 15 minutes to stain the egg-

masses. Egg-masses per root system were counted according to the procedure of Taylor

and Sasser, (1978).

Total nematode population from roots

For estimating root population of nematodes (J2+J3+J4, mature females), roots from each

replicate was weighed and cut into the size of 1cm length. One gram of root pieces was

stained with acid fuschin and lactophenol (Byrd et al., 1983). The root pieces were

placed between two slides, examined under stereoscopic microscope and number of

J2+J3+J4 for the whole root system was calculated. For counting the number of females,

1g of root pieces were transferred in 5% HNO3 and incubated at 250C. After 72 h the

root pieces were gently teased for smooth release of the females. The number of

females/g of root were counted and total number of females for the whole root system

was calculated (Hussey and Barker, 1973). The mean of replicates were then calculated.

The egg-masses were extracted from the roots of each treatment separately by

Chlorox method of Hussey and Barker, (1973). Roots from each treatment were cut into

1-2cm pieces. One gram of the root pieces were shaken vigorously in 200ml of 1.0G%

NaOCl solution for 1 to 4 minutes. Then NaOCl solution was passed through a 200 mesh

sieves, rested over 500 mesh sieve to collect free eggs. After this 500 mesh sieve with

eggs was placed under a stream of cold water to remove residual NaOCl (rinsed for

several minutes). The rinsed roots were put under water to remove additional eggs and

were collected by sieving. The number of egg-masses was then counted in counting dish

under stereoscopic microscope. The total number of eggs was calculated by multiplying

the number with the fresh weight of the root in the treatment. Extraction of nematode

population from soil

Soil population (J2+ male) of the nematode was estimated by Cobb’s sieving and

decanting method with Baermann’s funnel techniques (Southey, 1986). The nematode

suspensions were collected from the funnels. Water suspension of the nematodes were

gently stirred to make homogenous suspension of nematodes and then 5ml were

transferred to the counting dish and the nematodes were identified and counted under a

microscope. On average, five counts were made in each case.

Statistical analysis

The data were collected and analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA)

in factorial design as mentioned by Dospekhov (1984) and critical differences (C.D) was

calculated at P=0.05 and P=0.01. Details of the ANOVA model are given in appendix.

RESULTS

Screening against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita

Ten tomato varieties such as Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa 120, Pusa Ruby, Pusa

Uphar, Marglobe, Best of All, Raina, Rupali, Rashmi and Vaishali, were evaluated for

their susceptibility and resistance against different inoculum levels of root-knot

nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in terms of growth parameters like fresh as well as

dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N, P and K

contents in plants (Tables 10-19). The disease intensity was recorded in terms of number

of root-galls and egg-masses per plant and multiplication rate of nematode in soil as well

as in roots. All the tomato varieties screened against the root-knot nematode

(M.incognita) were found to be susceptible however, at varying extent as indicated by

the number of root-galls, egg-masses and nematode population. There was overall

decrease in plant-growth parameters like fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits

per plant and physiological/agronomic parameters like chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid

content, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in the plants, seems to be due to

the presence of different inoculum levels of Meloidogyne incognita and this reduction in

growth parameters was directly proportional to increase in inoculum levels. Among all

the varieties ‘Pusa Ruby’ was found to be highly susceptible because presence of

numerous more number of root-galls. On the other hand, lesser number of galls were

recorded in 6 tomato varieties, viz. Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa 120, Marglobe, Raina, Rupali

and Rashmi, thus determined to be less susceptible varieties than Pusa Ruby. Pusa Uphar

was found to be moderately resistant and Best of All as resistant and Vaishali as highly

resistant variety.

Fresh weight

The deleterious effect of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incongita) was

observed in terms of fresh weight of different varieties of tomato at different inoculum

levels (from 100-5000 J2/plant) of the nematode. The highest reduction in fresh weight

was recorded in the variety Pusa Ruby Table 12 and the minimum in Vaishali at 500

inoculum level (Table 19). However, the inoculum level 2000 J2/plant also showed a

significant reduction in fresh weight of different susceptible varieties. Data presented in

these tables also revealed that inoculation of 100 J2/plant did not cause significant

reduction in fresh weight of any of the screened varieties of tomato.

Dry weight

Dry weight of tomato was also greatly affected by the different inoculum levels

of M. incognita. Inoculation of Meloidogyne incognita resulted decrease in plant’s dry

weight in all the varieties tested as compared to control. Inoculation of 2000 J2/plant

recorded significant reduction of 49.0% in dry weight of Pusa Ruby followed by Pusa

Early Dwarf (45.30%), Rashmi (40.0%), Rupali (37.64%), Pusa 120 (37.47%), Marglobe

(23.81%), Raina (19.72%), Pusa Uphar (10.22%), Best of All (8.10%), and Vaishali

showed minimum reduction of 4.66%. Higher inoculum level of 5000 J2/plant recorded

more reduction in Pusa Ruby followed by Pusa Uphar, Marglobe, Best of All, Raina,

Rupali and Vaishali (Tables 10-19).

Table 10. Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Pusa Early Dwarf’* Nematode inoculum levels (J2)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)

Number of fruits/plant

Chlorophyll content (mg/g)

Ascorbic acid content

(mg/100g)

Nitrogen content (mg/kg)

Phosphate content (mg/kg)

Potassium content (mg/kg)

Number of galls per root

system

Number of egg-masses

per root system

Final nematode population

Control 30.60±1.08 11.57±0.41 22.50±0.80 5.693±0.201 55.60±1.97 36.54±1.29 29.43±1.04 19.67±0.70 0.0±0.00 0.0±0.00 0±0.0

100 29.90±1.06 10.71±0.38 20.25±0.72 4.867±0.172 46.27±1.64 34.27±1.21 27.75±0.98 18.75±0.66 21.8±0.77 48.0±1.70 1556±55.0

500 28.30±1.00 9.80±0.35 18.18±0.64 4.346±0.154 41.25±1.46 31.61±1.12 26.26±0.93 17.70±0.63 32.7±1.16 62.3±2.20 5230±184.9

1000 26.40±0.93 8.79±0.31 15.18±0.54 3.563±0.126 35.42±1.25 29.38±1.04 24.42±0.86 16.56±0.59 47.5±1.68 100.2±3.54 7365±260.4

2000 23.92±0.85 7.09±0.22 11.52±0.41 2.609±0.092 24.96±0.88 25.34±0.90 21.13±0.75 14.28±0.50 85.2±3.01 168.5±5.96 14250±503.8

5000 22.50±0.80 5.35±0.19 8.74±0.31 1.973±0.070 17.01±0.60 22.15±0.78 17.60±0.62 12.37±0.44 116.6±4.12 202.4±7.16 12380±437.7

C.D. (P=0.05) 2.58 0.87 1.62 0.391 3.75 2.89 2.36 1.60 5.61 10.52 729.41

C.D. (P=0.01) 3.67 1.24 2.30 0.556 5.33 4.11 3.36 2.27 7.97 14.97 1037.48

*Each value is an average of five replicates, Mean±SD Table 11. Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Pusa 120’* Nematode inoculum levels (J2)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 34.5±1.22 12.2±0.43 20.9±0.74 5.507±0.195 59.35±2.10 38.14±1.35 33.54±1.19 22.60±0.80 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0.0

500 J2 33.87±1.20 11.58±0.41 19.43±0.69 4.925±0.174 52.00±1.84 36.64±1.30 32.27±1.14 21.87±0.77 18.50±0.65 46.80±1.65 1367±48.3

1000 J2 32.34±1.14 10.70±0.38 17.73±0.63 4.598±0.163 47.19±1.67 34.32±1.21 30.88±1.09 21.01±0.74 30.60±1.08 57.20±2.02 4406±155.8

2000 J2 30.72±1.09 9.76±0.35 15.84±0.56 3.909±0.138 40.57±1.43 32.28±1.14 29.24±1.03 19.97±0.71 44.70±1.58 82.50±2.92 6138±217.0

5000 J2 27.56±0.97 7.65±0.27 12.67±0.45 3.110±0.110 31.75±1.12 28.42±1.00 26.10±0.92 17.89±0.63 76.20±2.69 133.60±4.72 12356±436.9

8000 J2 25.12±0.89 6.22±0.22 10.38±0.37 2.575±0.091 26.59±0.94 25.10±0.89 23.28±0.82 15.93±0.56 103.90±3.67 170.00±6.01 10264±362.9

C.D. (P=0.05) 2.94 0.95 1.59 0.406 4.26 3.13 2.80 1.90 5.02 8.79 619.0

C.D. (P=0.01) 4.17 1.35 2.26 0.578 6.07 4.45 3.98 2.71 7.15 12.50 880.5

*Each value is an average of five replicates, Mean±SD

A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000

Fig. 8 Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode, M. incognita on fresh

as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Pusa Early Dwarf’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

Dry

we

ight

(g

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er

root

sys

tem

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Nitr

oge

n co

nten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40

Num

ber

of

egg

-ma

sse

s p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

50

100

150

200

250

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Nematode inoculum levels per pot (J2)

A B C D E F

Fin

al n

ema

tode

pop

ula

tion

0200040006000800010000120001400016000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000

Fig. 9 Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode, M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Pusa 120’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

Dry

we

ight

(g

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

egg-

ma

sse

s p

er r

oot

syst

em

020406080100120140160180200

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40


A B C D E F

Fin

al n

ema

tode

pop

ula

tion

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Table 12. Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Pusa Ruby’*

Nematode inoculum levels (J2)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 36.57±1.29 12.80±0.45 24.00±0.85 5.680±0.201 52.69±1.86 38.62±1.37 30.44±1.08 21.78±0.77 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 35.23±1.25 11.88±0.42 21.05±0.74 4.710±0.167 43.37±1.53 35.94±1.27 28.61±1.01 20.64±0.73 24.60±0.87 52.17±1.84 1756±62

500 33.68±1.19 10.59±0.37 18.87±0.67 4.179±0.148 38.12±1.35 32.90±1.16 26.56±0.94 19.40±0.69 36.47±1.29 69.37±2.45 5660±200

1000 31.01±1.10 9.07±0.32 15.40±0.54 3.280±0.116 31.10±1.10 29.45±1.04 24.29±0.86 17.84±0.63 52.85±1.87 105.40±3.73 7764±274

2000 22.94±0.99 6.52±0.25 10.93±0.39 2.230±0.079 21.97±0.78 25.27±0.89 20.90±0.74 15.38±0.54 100±3.16 190.15±6.72 16532±584

5000 21.98±0.90 5.89±0.19 8.92±0.28 1.588±0.056 16.66±0.59 21.90±0.77 18.06±0.64 13.25±0.47 123.47±4.37 223.32±7.90 13640±482

C.D. (P=0.05) 3.03 0.95 1.67 0.375 3.49 2.99 2.41 1.75 5.98 11.6 818.2

C.D. (P=0.01) 4.32 1.35 2.38 0.533 4.96 4.25 3.42 2.48 8.51 16.5 1163.7

*Each value is an average of five replicates, Mean±SD Table 13. Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic

acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Pusa Uphar’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 39.13±1.38 13.26±0.47 25.56±0.90 6.247±0.221 62.80±2.22 42.73±1.51 35.64±1.78 24.84±0.88 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 38.83±1.37 13.12±0.46 24.75±0.88 6.170±0.218 61.41±2.17 42.51±1.50 35.52±1.78 24.72±0.87 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 77±3

500 38.68±1.37 12.96±0.46 24.66±0.87 6.072±0.215 60.43±2.14 42.06±1.49 35.37±1.77 24.67±0.87 1.50±0.05 2.50±0.09 342±12

1000 37.63±1.33 12.51±0.44 23.51±0.83 6.045±0.214 59.60±2.11 41.87±1.48 35.10±1.75 24.50±0.87 3.07±0.11 6.73±0.24 1063±38

2000 36.19±1.28 11.90±0.42 21.87±0.77 5.654±0.200 56.28±1.99 41.06±1.45 34.85±1.74 24.34±0.86 10.16±0.36 12.50±0.44 2506±89

5000 34.17±1.21 11.36±0.40 21.16±0.75 5.397±0.191 53.38±1.89 40.37±1.43 34.23±1.71 24.10±0.85 13.57±0.48 17.62±0.62 6831±242

C.D. (P=0.05) NS 1.18 2.24 0.561 5.58 NS NS NS 0.60 0.80 264.8

C.D. (P=0.01) NS 1.69 3.18 0.797 7.93 NS NS NS 0.86 1.13 376.7


A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000

Fig. 10 Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode, M. incognita on fresh as

well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Pusa Ruby’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

Num

be

r of

fru

its/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(m

g/g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er r

oot s

yste

m

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

egg-

ma

sse

s p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

50

100

150

200

250

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


A B C D E F

Fin

al n

emat

ode

pop

ula

tion

020004000600080001000012000140001600018000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000


well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Pusa Uphar’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

be

r of

fru

its/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

02468

10121416

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(m

g/g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er r

oot s

yste

m

0246810121416

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

egg-

ma

sse

s p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

5

10

15

20

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40


A B C D E F

Fin

al n

emat

ode

pop

ula

tion

0

2000

4000

6000

8000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Table 14. Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Marglobe’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 37.10±1.31 10.57±0.37 25.50±0.90 5.930±0.210 58.32±2.06 44.63±1.58 32.94±1.16 21.60±0.76 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 36.58±1.29 10.09±0.36 23.43±0.83 5.258±0.186 49.79±1.76 42.98±1.52 31.95±1.13 21.01±0.74 18.26±0.65 30.00±1.06 1194±42

500 35.41±1.25 9.79±0.35 22.58±0.80 4.997±0.177 48.09±1.70 40.26±1.42 30.13±1.07 20.31±0.72 29.30±1.04 46.17±1.63 4711±167

1000 33.71±1.19 9.14±0.32 21.08±0.75 4.539±0.160 43.74±1.55 38.56±1.36 29.20±1.03 19.44±0.69 44.00±1.56 60.55±2.14 6674±236

2000 31.81±1.12 8.05±0.28 18.31±0.65 3.996±0.141 36.58±1.29 35.00±1.24 26.74±0.95 18.04±0.64 73.43±2.60 83.47±2.95 12364±437

5000 29.60±1.05 7.36±0.26 16.15±0.57 3.552±0.126 31.97±1.13 31.16±1.10 24.02±0.85 16.30±0.58 90.14±3.19 105.33±3.72 12203±431

C.D. (P=0.05) 3.23 0.88 2.04 0.455 4.34 3.71 2.78 1.85 4.60 5.68 667.09

C.D. (P=0.01) 4.60 1.25 2.90 0.647 6.18 5.28 3.96 2.63 6.55 8.08 948.84


acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Best of All’* Nematode inoculum levels (J2)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 33.56±1.19 11.40±0.40 26.00±0.92 5.543±0.196 55.72±1.97 37.84±1.34 30.61±1.08 20.44±0.72 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 33.39±1.18 11.17±0.39 25.01±0.88 5.300±0.187 52.65±1.86 36.89±1.30 29.96±1.06 20.13±0.71 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 43±2

500 33.12±1.17 10.95±0.39 24.70±0.87 5.200±0.184 51.81±1.83 36.25±1.28 29.44±1.04 19.87±0.70 0.31±0.01 0.00±0.00 264±9

1000 32.38±1.14 10.70±0.38 24.07±0.85 5.044±0.178 50.09±1.77 35.44±1.25 28.86±1.02 19.43±0.69 1.56±0.06 2.00±0.07 661±23

2000 31.69±1.12 10.47±0.37 23.54±0.83 4.844±0.171 47.72±1.69 34.45±1.22 28.33±1.00 19.06±0.67 4.72±0.17 6.13±0.22 1416±50

5000 30.87±1.09 10.10±0.36 22.97±0.81 4.667±0.165 45.40±1.61 33.46±1.18 27.35±0.97 18.56±0.66 8.10±0.29 10.65±0.38 5173±183

C.D. (P=0.05) NS NS NS 0.482 4.79 NS NS NS 0.34 0.45 195.8

C.D. (P=0.01) NS NS NS 0.686 6.81 NS NS NS 0.48 0.63 278.5


A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000


well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Marglobe’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Dry

we

ight

(g

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

egg-

ma

sse

s p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40


A B C D E F

Fin

al n

ema

tode

pop

ula

tion

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000

Fig.13 Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode, M. incognita on fresh as

well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Best of All’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er r

oot s

yste

m

0

2

4

6

8

10

Nitr

oge

n co

nte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

egg-

ma

sse

s p

er r

oot s

yste

m

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


A B C D E F

Fin

al n

em

ato

dep

opul

atio

n

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Table 16. Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Raina’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 42.67±1.51 13.25±0.47 20.52±0.73 6.234±0.220 50.44±1.78 39.73±1.40 28.56±1.01 24.12±0.85 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 42.29±1.50 12.77±0.45 19.24±0.68 5.730±0.203 46.12±1.63 38.33±1.36 27.70±0.98 23.44±0.83 4.00±0.14 7.00±0.25 75±3

500 41.60±1.47 12.58±0.44 18.70±0.66 5.423±0.192 43.06±1.52 36.48±1.29 26.46±0.94 22.44±0.79 13.64±0.48 19.17±0.68 3279±116

1000 39.84±1.41 12.01±0.42 17.58±0.62 5.141±0.182 40.20±1.42 34.73±1.23 25.54±0.90 21.93±0.78 23.07±0.82 29.00±1.03 4165±147

2000 36.52±1.29 10.63±0.38 14.99±0.53 4.135±0.146 29.87±1.06 30.98±1.10 22.99±0.81 19.81±0.70 41.00±1.45 54.35±1.92 13740±486

5000 34.13±1.21 9.64±0.34 12.98±0.46 3.537±0.125 24.63±0.87 26.86±0.95 19.92±0.70 17.45±0.62 54.62±1.93 70.00±2.47 13262±469

C.D. (P=0.05) 3.76 1.13 1.67 0.488 3.84 3.31 2.41 2.05 2.57 3.35 677.60

C.D. (P=0.01) 5.34 1.60 2.37 0.695 5.46 4.71 3.43 2.92 3.66 4.76 963.78


acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Rupali’* Nematode inoculum levels (J2)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 37.19±1.31 11.26±0.40 26.65±0.94 5.606±0.198 56.83±2.01 41.49±1.47 30.58±1.08 27.00±0.95 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 36.68±1.30 10.97±0.39 25.31±0.89 5.162±0.183 51.09±1.81 39.75±1.41 29.35±1.04 26.00±0.92 11.50±0.41 19.56±0.69 1362±48

500 35.68±1.26 10.39±0.37 23.53±0.83 4.769±0.169 48.02±1.70 36.93±1.31 27.63±0.98 25.05±0.89 23.63±0.84 27.00±0.95 4373±155

1000 32.14±1.14 9.55±0.34 22.25±0.79 4.468±0.158 43.54±1.54 35.03±1.24 26.40±0.93 24.08±0.85 32.36±1.14 35.16±1.24 5400±191

2000 26.85±0.95 7.02±0.25 15.83±0.56 3.106±0.110 28.87±1.02 30.23±1.07 22.52±0.80 21.77±0.77 46.17±1.63 56.22±1.99 14274±505

5000 22.92±0.81 5.06±0.18 10.99±0.39 2.108±0.075 22.40±0.79 25.39±0.90 20.43±0.72 18.75±0.66 88.10±3.11 101.35±3.58 14478±512

C.D. (P=0.05) 3.09 0.89 2.06 0.420 4.19 3.36 2.52 2.27 3.85 4.52 746.08

C.D. (P=0.01) 4.40 1.27 2.93 0.598 5.96 4.78 3.58 3.23 5.47 6.43 1061.18


A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000


well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Raina’.

Fre

sh w

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)

0

10

20

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Dry

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(g)

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6

7

Asc

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ic a

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cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er r

oot s

yste

m

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

egg-

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0

20

40

60

80

Pho

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)

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35


A B C D E F

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A B C D E F

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(mg/

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5

10

15

20

25

30

A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000


well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Rupali’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

be

r of

fru

its/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

galls

p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

egg

-ma

sse

s p

er r

oot

syst

em

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


A B C D E F

Fin

al n

ema

tode

pop

ula

tion

0200040006000800010000120001400016000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Table 18. Effect of different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode M. incognita on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Rashmi’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 35.44±1.25 14.00±0.49 23.65±0.84 5.707±0.202 44.93±1.59 29.54±1.04 23.67±0.84 56.64±2.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 34.75±1.23 13.45±0.48 21.49±0.76 4.979±0.176 41.98±1.48 28.06±0.99 22.51±0.80 47.78±1.69 19.50±0.69 40.20±1.42 1665±59

500 32.74±1.16 12.60±0.45 20.39±0.72 4.731±0.167 40.26±1.42 27.21±0.96 22.02±0.78 45.02±1.59 26.80±0.95 50.10±1.77 5164±183

1000 30.70±1.09 11.45±0.40 17.57±0.62 3.852±0.136 36.71±1.30 24.84±0.88 20.67±0.73 38.81±1.37 44.00±1.56 77.30±2.73 7039±249

2000 24.73±0.77 8.4±0.25 11.79±0.42 2.376±0.084 29.81±1.05 21.08±0.75 17.66±0.62 27.39±0.97 73.20±2.59 140.50±4.97 13892±491

5000 18.37±0.65 5.68±0.20 7.89±0.28 1.714±0.061 26.44±0.93 18.09±0.64 15.02±0.53 16.95±0.60 105.40±3.73 176.80±6.25 14679±519

C.D. (P=0.05) 2.85 1.08 1.74 0.401 3.56 2.40 1.95 3.93 5.01 8.88 768.74

C.D. (P=0.01) 4.06 1.53 2.47 0.570 5.07 3.41 2.77 5.60 7.13 12.63 1093.41


acid content, N P K contents, number of galls per root system, number of egg-masses and nematode population infesting tomato variety ‘Vaishali’* Nematode inoculum levels (J2)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





system


per root system


Control 38.79±1.37 13.00±0.46 26.17±0.93 5.414±0.191 45.50±1.61 32.63±1.15 22.57±0.80 54.69±1.93 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0±0

100 38.75±1.37 12.93±0.46 25.83±0.91 5.332±0.189 45.23±1.60 32.46±1.15 22.49±0.80 53.77±1.90 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 60±2

500 38.55±1.36 12.89±0.46 25.88±0.91 5.305±0.188 44.86±1.59 32.29±1.14 22.38±0.79 53.53±1.89 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 282±10

1000 38.40±1.36 12.81±0.45 25.77±0.91 5.257±0.186 44.59±1.58 32.11±1.14 22.29±0.79 53.03±1.87 1.70±0.06 0.00±0.00 838±30

2000 37.40±1.32 12.39±0.44 24.87±0.88 5.143±0.182 43.46±1.54 31.52±1.11 21.98±0.78 51.79±1.83 1.80±0.07 2.10±0.07 1520±54

5000 36.79±1.30 12.12±0.43 24.36±0.86 5.034±0.178 42.54±1.50 30.71±1.09 21.74±0.77 51.09±1.81 2.00±0.09 2.36±0.08 4306±152

C.D. (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 0.13 0.11 167.61

C.D. (P=0.01) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 0.19 0.16 238.39


A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000


well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Rashmi’.

Fre

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)

0

10

20

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70

A = Control, B = 100, C = 500, D = 1000, E = 2000, F = 5000


well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents in relation to disease incidence in tomato variety ‘Vaishali’.

Fre

sh w

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0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Nitr

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(mg/

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20

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40

Num

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egg-

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1.5

2.0

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5000


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60


The results presented in Tables 10-19 clearly indicates that significant reduction in

number of tomato fruits due to M.incognita in all the varieties of tomato at the inoculum

levels 500-5000 J2/plant. Maximum reduction in number of fruits/plant has been observed in

Pusa Ruby (54.44%), while the minimum ones obtained in Vaishali (4.96%) at 2000

inoculum level. The higher level of inoculum 5000 J2/plant caused more reduction in number

of fruits in all the tomato varieties as compared to uninoculated controls.

Chlorophyll content

The root-knot nematode, M.incognita caused significant reduction in chlorophyll

content in all the screened varieties of tomato at different inoculum levels however, at

varying extent. The inoculum level of 2000 J2/plant caused maximum reduction of 60.78% in

chlorophyll content in Pusa Ruby whereas minimum reduction of 5.0% was recorded in the

variety Vaishali. Inoculation of 5000 J2/plant caused more reduction in chlorophyll content in

Pusa Ruby followed by Rashmi, Pusa Early Dwarf, Rupali, Pusa 120, Raina, Marglobe, Best

of All, Pusa Uphar and Vaishali (Figures 8-17).


The results presented in Tables 10-19 show that the presence of Meloidogyne

incognita in all the varieties of tomato at different inoculum levels (100-5000 J2/plant)

resulted significant reduction in ascorbic acid content. However, the significant reduction was

observed in Pusa Ruby (58.30%), whereas minimum was recorded in Pusa Uphar (10.37%) at

2000 J2/plant. More reduction was observed in all the varieties of tomato at the inoculum

level of 5000 J2/plant. The maximum reduction recorded in Rashmi (70.06%) was followed

by Pusa Early Dwarf (69.39%), Pusa Ruby (68.37%), Rupali (60.57%), Pusa-120 (55.19%),

Raina (51.16%), Marglobe (45.17%), Best of All (18.52%), Pusa Uphar (15.0%) and Vaishali

(6.58%).

Nutrient contents

The results presented in graphic form Figures 8-17 clearly explained that different

inoculum levels of M. incognita adversely affected the nutrient contents in all the ten tested

varieties of tomato. At 2000 J2/plant, variety Pusa Ruby showed maximum reduction

(34.56%) in nitrogen content, while Vaishali showed minimum one (4.47%). Further

reduction in nitrogen content in all the tested varieties was recorded at 5000 inoculum level.

Like nitrogen, 2000 J2/plant caused maximum reduction of phosphate content in Pusa Ruby

(31.32%) and minimum reduction was noted in Pusa Uphar (2.20%). Higher reduction in

phosphate was noted in plants inoculated with 5000 J2/plant. Almost similar trend was

observed in case of potassium content, 2000 J2/plant caused maximum reduction of

potassium content in Pusa Ruby (29.35%) and minimum in Pusa Uphar (2.0%). The

inoculum level 5000(J2)/plant caused more reduction in all the varieties of tomato.

Nematode population

The multiplication of root-knot nematode was adversely affected in resistant varieties

but it gradually increased in susceptible varieties at all inoculum levels (Tables 10-19). The

nematode population in root and soil was found positively correlated with the number of root-

galls and negatively correlated with the growth parameters. A significant difference was

observed in the population between susceptible and resistant varieties. Maximum nematode

population (16532) was recorded in Pusa Ruby Figure 10 and the minimum (1416) in Best of

All at 2000 inoculum level (Figure 13). Inoculation of 5000 J2/plant also caused significant

reduction in Marglobe, Raina and Rupali varieties (Figures 12, 14, 15).

Number of root-galls

The reduction in growth parameters was indirectly proportional with the number of

root-galls. The number of galls increased significantly with an increase in inoculum levels of

the root-knot nematode, M.incognita (Tables 10-19). Maximum number of root-galls were

obtained from Pusa Ruby (123.47) and minimum from Vaishali (13.57) at inoculum level of

5000 J2/plant. However, number of root-galls increased significantly at all the inoculum

levels in susceptible varieties but in resistant one thus was not found statistically significant.


The number of egg-masses followed the similar trend as that of root-galls. The highest

number of egg-masses (190.15) were recorded in Pusa Ruby variety at inoculum level 2000

J2/plant followed by Pusa Early Dwarf (168.5), Rashmi (140.5), Pusa 120 (133.6), Marglobe

(83.47), Rupali (56.22), Raina (54.35), Pusa Uphar (12.50), Best of All (6.13) and Vaishali

(2.10). Largest number of egg-masses per root system was found at 5000 J2/plant inoculum

level in all the varieties screened (Figures 8-17).

Summary

On the basis of results presented in these tables as well as in the figures the following

conclusions were drawn:

• All the tested varieties of tomato, viz., Pusa Ruby, Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa-120,

Marglobe, Best of All, Rashmi, Rupali and Raina, Pusa Uphar, Vaishali were found

susceptible to the different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne

incognita in terms of growth and productivity parameters, however to varying extent.

• The overall reduction in plant-growth parameters was found directly proportional or

correlated to the corresponding increase in inoculum levels of M. incognita.

• Different inoculum levels of root-knot nematode gradually decreased the nutrient

contents (N P K) in the plants. Significant reduction in all the growth and productivity

parameters was observed in those plants inoculated with 2000J2, hence inoculum level

2000J2/plant was considered as threshold level of M. incognita and was used for further

experiments.

• Much damage to the tomato plants was observed at higher inoculum levels, i.e

5000J2/plant but not statistically significant and not at par with 2000J2/plant. The

nematode population as well as the number of root-galls was found highest in highly

susceptible varieties and lowest in resistant ones.

• The variety “Pusa Ruby” showed higher reduction in growth as well as in productivity

parameters and harboured highest number of nematodes while relatively resistant

variety Vaishali had lowest number of nematodes at the different inoculum levels.

Screening against AM fungus Glomus fasciculatum

All the tested varieties of tomato, viz. Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa 120, Pusa Ruby, Pusa

Uphar, Marglobe, Best of All, Raina, Rupali, Rashmi and Vaishali were found improved in

terms of growth parameters such as plants fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits,

nutrient contents, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content at all the inoculum levels (150,

300, 600, 1200 and 2400 spores/plant) of Glomus fasciculatum (Tables 20-29). Plant-growth

parameters progressively increased with the increasing inoculum levels of the AM fungus.

Fresh weight

Significant improvement in fresh weight was observed at 600, 1200 and 2400

spores/plant inoculum levels of G. fasciculatum. Maximum improvement in fresh weight was

recorded at the highest inoculum level (2400 spores/plant), but 1200 spores/plant was found

to be the more appropriate level. Maximum fresh weight was obtained in Pusa Ruby

(69.65%) Figure 20 and the minimum in Raina variety (25.62%) at 1200 spores/plant (Figure

24).

Dry weight

Dry weight of the tomato plants was progressively increased by the increasing the

inoculum levels of G. fasciculatum in all the tested varieties, however, to varying extent.

Maximum dry weight was obtained in Pusa Ruby (75.40%) followed by Pusa 120 (73.00%),

Pusa Earely Dwarf (72.33%), Best of All (62.73%), Pusa Uphar (59.00%), Rashmi (52.26%),

Marglobe (51.39%), Rupali (49.06%), Vaishali (44.39%) and Raina (31.19%) at 1200

spores/plant. The higher inoculum level of 2400 spores/plant caused further improvement in

dry weight but not statistically significant (Tables 20-29).


Highest number of fruits were recorded in Pusa Ruby (60.62%) and minimum in Raina

(34.89%) at 1200 spores/plant. Further increase in the number of fruits was observed at the

higher inoculum level, i.e. 2400 spores/plant (Figures 18-27).

Chlorophyll content

All the inoculum levels of G. fasciculatum resulted a significant increase in chlorophyll

content of the tomato varieties (Tables 20-29). The inoculum level of 1200 spores/plant

caused highest increase in chlorophyll content in Pusa Ruby (78.18%) and lowest in Raina

(37.14%).


Glomus fasciculatum significantly increased the ascorbic acid content of all the tested

varieties of tomato, viz. Pusa Ruby, Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa 120, Marglobe, Pusa Uphar, Best

of All, Rupali, Raina, Rashmi and Vaishali at all the inoculum levels (Figures 18-27).

Maximum ascorbic acid content was estimated in variety Pusa Ruby (71.09%) and the

minimum in Vaishali (44.32%) at 1200spores/plant. Further improvement in ascorbic acid

content was noted at 2400 spores/plant but not statistically significant.

Table 20. Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa Early Dwarf’*

Spore inoculum levels

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




External colonization

(%)

Internal colonization

(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 30.60±1.53 11.57±0.58 22.50±1.13 5.693±0.285 55.60±2.89 36.54±1.95 29.43±1.49 19.67±1.33 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 34.76±1.74 13.37±0.67 26.86±1.34 6.909±0.345 66.50±3.45 48.09±2.56 37.16±1.88 25.56±1.73 22.20±1.11 26.50±1.28 225.00±10.84

300 37.48±1.87 14.45±0.72 28.38±1.42 7.158±0.358 69.85±3.63 55.95±2.98 48.40±2.45 31.36±2.13 29.60±1.48 36.50±1.76 356.00±17.16

600 42.01±2.10 16.38±0.82 29.59±1.48 7.765±0.388 76.32±3.96 59.08±3.15 53.34±2.70 21.25±1.44 39.40±1.97 47.30±2.28 414.00±19.95

1200 50.58±2.53 19.93±1.00 35.91±1.80 8.881±0.444 83.34±4.33 62.92±3.36 70.82±3.59 37.22±2.52 56.00±2.80 63.40±3.06 622.00±29.98

2400 54.07±2.70 20.94±1.05 38.31±1.92 9.641±0.482 88.95±4.62 64.36±3.43 81.38±4.12 39.10±2.65 67.30±3.37 75.10±3.62 710.00±34.22

C.D. (P=0.05) 3.89 1.51 2.84 0.720 7.13 5.44 5.12 3.71 3.74 4.15 38.77

C.D. (P=0.01) 5.54 2.15 4.03 1.024 10.14 7.74 7.28 5.28 5.32 5.91 55.15

*Each value is an average of five replicates, Mean±SD Table 21. Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic

acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa 120’* Spore inoculum levels

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 34.52±1.73 12.24±0.61 20.90±1.05 5.507±0.275 59.35±2.97 38.14±1.91 33.54±1.68 22.60±1.13 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 39.92±2.00 14.36±0.72 25.10±1.26 6.703±0.335 71.33±3.57 53.84±2.69 43.66±2.18 33.39±1.67 25.50±1.27 27.30±1.36 214.00±10.70

300 42.83±2.14 15.43±0.77 26.43±1.32 6.858±0.343 74.88±3.74 61.69±3.08 57.62±2.88 37.88±1.89 33.40±1.67 36.60±1.83 350.00±17.50

600 47.82±2.39 17.63±0.88 28.26±1.41 7.609±0.380 81.03±4.05 63.37±3.17 63.33±3.17 40.93±2.05 45.20±2.26 49.50±2.48 445.00±22.25

1200 57.44±2.87 21.17±1.06 33.93±1.70 9.035±0.452 91.00±4.55 69.10±3.45 82.60±4.13 45.58±2.28 60.30±3.02 66.20±3.31 625.00±31.25

2400 60.15±3.01 22.34±1.12 36.46±1.82 9.413±0.471 98.38±4.92 70.36±3.52 91.86±4.59 49.53±2.48 71.60±3.58 76.40±3.82 720.00±36.00

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.41 1.61 2.67 0.702 7.62 5.62 5.40 3.88 4.09 4.43 38.51

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.27 2.29 3.80 0.998 10.84 8.00 7.68 5.52 5.82 6.30 54.77


A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 18 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as

well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa Early Dwarf’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Num

ber

of

fru

its/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Ch

loro

ph

yll c

onte

nt

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ext

ern

al c

olon

izat

ion

(%)

0

20

40

60

80

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg

/kg)

0

20

40

60

80

Inte

rnal

col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ph

osp

hate

con

ten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Spore inoculum levels per pot

A B C D E F

Chl

amyd

osp

ores

/10

0g

soil

0

200

400

600

800


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 19 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on

fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa 120’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of f

ruits

/pla

nt

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(m

g/1

00

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ext

ern

al c

olon

iza

tion

(%)

0

20

40

60

80

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Chl

am

ydos

por

es/

10

0g

soil

0

200

400

600

800


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Table 22. Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa Ruby’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 36.57±1.83 12.80±0.64 24.00±1.20 5.688±0.284 52.69±2.63 38.62±1.93 30.44±1.52 21.78±1.09 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 41.50±2.07 15.07±0.75 29.17±1.46 6.950±0.347 63.93±3.20 55.85±2.79 54.14±2.71 32.69±1.63 19.50±0.97 30.30±1.51 216.00±10.80

300 45.05±2.25 16.01±0.80 30.46±1.52 7.238±0.362 66.71±3.34 63.10±3.15 52.97±2.65 37.52±1.88 25.80±1.29 44.50±2.22 360.00±18.00

600 51.31±2.57 18.57±0.93 31.96±1.60 7.817±0.391 72.48±3.62 66.32±3.32 60.66±3.03 39.99±2.00 36.70±1.84 60.00±3.00 458.00±22.90

1200 62.04±3.10 22.45±1.12 38.55±1.93 10.089±0.504 90.14±4.51 71.08±3.55 75.38±3.77 46.66±2.33 53.30±2.66 74.20±3.71 639.00±31.95

2400 64.83±3.24 23.08±1.15 40.35±2.02 10.134±0.507 88.87±4.44 76.56±3.83 83.83±4.19 49.20±2.46 66.20±3.31 79.80±3.99 735.00±36.75

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.49 1.62 3.04 0.732 6.73 5.34 5.34 3.97 3.55 3.86 37.43

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.38 2.30 4.32 1.041 9.57 7.60 7.59 5.65 5.05 5.49 53.24


acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa Uphar’* Spore inoculum levels

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 39.13±1.96 13.26±0.66 25.56±1.28 6.247±0.312 62.80±3.14 42.73±2.14 35.64±1.78 24.84±1.24 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 43.57±2.18 15.10±0.76 31.34±1.57 7.683±0.384 75.46±3.77 53.88±2.69 43.36±2.17 32.26±1.61 23.30±1.16 26.50±1.33 213.00±10.65

300 46.81±2.34 15.93±0.80 32.67±1.63 7.900±0.395 79.52±3.98 62.38±3.12 56.80±2.84 37.50±1.88 27.90±1.39 35.70±1.78 355.00±17.75

600 52.10±2.60 17.90±0.89 35.30±1.77 8.854±0.443 85.32±4.27 65.86±3.29 65.08±3.25 46.64±2.33 39.40±1.97 44.00±2.20 404.00±20.20

1200 60.87±3.04 21.08±1.05 42.55±2.13 10.218±0.511 96.51±4.83 70.25±3.51 74.57±3.73 44.14±2.21 55.80±2.79 60.40±3.02 580.00±29.00

2400 65.60±3.28 22.58±1.13 45.57±2.28 10.694±0.535 103.39±5.17 72.29±3.61 87.72±4.39 46.66±2.33 69.50±3.47 73.20±3.66 689.00±34.45

C.D. (P=0.05) 5.03 1.75 3.33 0.807 8.35 5.54 5.71 4.11 3.79 4.14 41.56

C.D. (P=0.01) 7.15 2.48 4.74 1.148 11.88 7.88 8.12 5.85 5.40 5.89 59.12


A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 20 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as

well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa Ruby’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

20

40

60

80

Num

be

r of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ext

ern

al c

olon

iza

tion

(%)

0

20

40

60

80

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Chl

am

ydos

por

es/

10

0g

soil

0

200

400

600

800

1000


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 21 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Pusa Uphar’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

20

40

60

80

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Chl

orop

hyl

l co

nten

t (m

g/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ext

erna

l col

oniz

atio

n

(%)

0

20

40

60

80

Nitr

oge

n c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

Inte

rnal

co

loni

zatio

n(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Chl

amyd

osp

ore

s/1

00

g so

il

0

200

400

600

800


A B C D E F

Pot

assi

um c

onte

nt

(mg

/kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Table 24. Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Marglobe’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 37.10±1.85 10.57±0.53 25.50±1.27 5.930±0.297 58.32±2.92 44.63±2.23 32.94±1.65 21.60±1.08 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 39.92±2.00 11.80±0.59 29.41±1.47 7.169±0.358 69.08±3.45 50.74±2.54 36.79±1.84 26.16±1.31 13.93±0.70 21.30±1.06 198.00±9.90

300 41.75±2.09 12.63±0.63 30.88±1.54 7.452±0.373 73.80±3.69 57.33±2.87 46.53±2.33 31.43±1.57 18.01±0.90 28.40±1.42 330.00±16.50

600 44.58±2.23 13.44±0.67 32.75±1.64 7.836±0.392 79.42±3.97 68.00±3.40 58.96±2.95 38.38±1.92 21.63±1.08 35.20±1.76 398.00±19.90

1200 52.68±2.63 16.00±0.80 38.48±1.92 9.383±0.469 88.41±4.42 79.16±3.96 73.46±3.67 36.95±1.85 35.40±1.77 49.50±2.48 562.00±28.10

2400 58.05±2.90 17.41±0.87 41.05±2.05 10.371±0.519 90.58±4.53 84.24±4.21 85.50±4.28 39.35±1.97 40.14±2.01 60.00±3.00 679.00±33.95

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.27 1.28 3.09 0.753 7.45 5.99 5.38 4.13 3.66 4.24 39.19

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.07 1.81 4.39 1.072 10.60 8.52 7.65 5.87 5.21 6.03 55.74


acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Best of All’* Spore inoculum levels

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 33.56±1.68 11.40±0.57 26.00±1.30 5.543±0.277 55.72±2.79 37.84±1.89 30.61±1.53 20.44±1.02 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 37.80±1.89 13.26±0.66 31.11±1.56 6.914±0.346 66.00±3.30 48.15±2.41 37.39±1.87 26.64±1.33 35.30±1.77 25.00±1.25 207.00±10.35

300 42.23±2.11 14.91±0.75 32.85±1.64 7.593±0.380 70.51±3.53 55.81±2.79 46.46±2.32 32.10±1.61 45.40±2.27 33.40±1.67 335.00±16.75

600 46.14±2.31 11.40±0.57 35.72±1.79 8.212±0.411 75.88±3.79 59.59±2.98 54.23±2.71 34.95±1.75 56.50±2.83 45.40±2.27 420.00±21.00

1200 50.49±2.52 18.55±0.93 39.35±1.97 9.384±0.469 89.59±4.48 62.81±3.14 69.79±3.49 36.97±1.85 66.10±3.31 63.70±3.19 600.00±30.00

2400 53.40±2.67 20.27±1.01 42.35±2.12 9.849±0.492 98.12±4.91 64.97±3.25 78.71±3.94 39.06±1.95 73.70±3.68 75.80±3.79 703.00±35.15

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.10 1.46 3.24 0.742 7.68 5.48 5.42 3.67 4.72 4.94 40.66

C.D. (P=0.01) 5.83 2.07 4.61 1.055 10.92 7.79 7.72 5.23 6.71 7.03 57.83


A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 22 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Marglobe’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ext

erna

l col

oniz

atio

n (%

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Chl

am

ydos

por

es/

100

g so

il

0

200

400

600

800


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 23 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Best of All’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ext

erna

l col

oniz

atio

n (%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Chl

am

ydos

por

es/

10

0g

soil

0

200

400

600

800


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Table 26. Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Raina’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 42.67±2.13 13.25±0.66 20.52±1.03 6.234±0.312 50.44±2.52 39.73±1.99 28.56±1.43 24.12±1.21 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 47.60±2.38 14.99±0.75 22.18±1.11 7.181±0.359 59.15±2.96 43.74±2.19 33.40±1.67 27.92±1.40 15.32±0.77 19.50±0.97 188.00±9.40

300 48.55±2.43 15.55±0.78 23.59±1.18 7.556±0.378 62.12±3.11 49.32±2.47 40.49±2.02 31.80±1.59 18.54±0.93 23.40±1.17 204.00±10.20

600 50.85±2.54 16.23±0.81 25.65±1.28 8.060±0.403 65.90±3.30 54.14±2.71 46.09±2.30 39.50±1.98 23.46±1.17 29.30±1.46 291.00±14.55

1200 53.60±2.68 17.38±0.87 27.68±1.38 8.549±0.427 69.32±3.47 62.50±3.13 54.61±2.73 44.04±2.20 30.66±1.53 38.20±1.91 344.00±17.20

2400 56.79±2.84 18.19±0.91 28.75±1.44 9.135±0.457 76.66±3.83 67.37±3.37 60.99±3.05 44.76±2.24 39.71±1.99 44.00±2.20 401.00±20.05

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.68 1.49 2.31 0.729 6.13 4.94 4.13 3.61 2.22 2.65 33.63

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.66 2.12 3.28 1.036 8.72 7.02 5.88 5.13 3.15 3.77 47.83


acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Rupali’* Spore inoculum levels

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 37.19±1.86 11.26±0.56 26.65±1.33 5.606±0.280 56.83±2.84 41.49±2.07 30.58±1.53 27.00±1.35 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 39.66±1.98 12.20±0.61 29.13±1.46 6.722±0.336 68.65±3.43 47.63±2.38 36.46±1.82 32.13±1.61 23.60±1.18 24.50±1.23 188.00±9.40

300 43.27±2.16 13.32±0.67 32.24±1.61 6.920±0.346 72.11±3.61 55.18±2.76 43.05±2.15 37.00±1.85 31.30±1.57 33.30±1.66 316.00±15.80

600 46.26±2.31 14.57±0.73 34.66±1.73 7.435±0.372 76.57±3.83 63.94±3.20 54.32±2.72 44.64±2.23 42.50±2.13 44.60±2.23 410.00±20.50

1200 52.48±2.62 16.78±0.84 38.53±1.93 8.924±0.446 91.17±4.56 74.56±3.73 67.14±3.36 45.87±2.29 57.20±2.86 65.90±3.30 550.00±27.50

2400 56.82±2.84 18.74±0.94 41.61±2.08 9.737±0.487 98.88±4.94 80.24±4.01 78.64±3.93 48.57±2.43 68.00±3.40 71.20±3.56 616.00±30.80

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.22 1.35 3.15 0.709 7.26 5.66 4.92 4.13 3.86 4.30 40.09

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.00 1.92 4.48 1.009 10.32 8.06 6.99 5.87 5.49 6.12 57.02


A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 24 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Raina’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Ch

loro

phy

ll co

nten

t (m

g/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ext

erna

l col

oniz

atio

n (%

)

0

10

20

30

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50

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70


A B C D E F

Chl

amyd

osp

ores

/10

0g

soil

0

100

200

300

400

500


A B C D E F

Pot

assi

um c

onte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 25 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Rupali’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

be

r of

fru

its/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(m

g/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ext

erna

l col

oniz

atio

n (%

)

0

20

40

60

80

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Chl

am

ydos

por

es/1

00

g so

il

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Table 28. Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Rashmi’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 35.44±1.77 14.00±0.70 23.65±1.18 5.707±0.285 56.64±2.83 44.93±2.25 29.54±1.48 23.67±1.18 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 37.43±1.87 15.46±0.77 26.69±1.33 6.795±0.340 68.64±3.43 46.19±2.31 34.93±1.75 29.44±1.47 14.90±0.74 17.50±0.88 193.00±9.65

300 40.15±2.01 16.64±0.83 28.53±1.43 7.265±0.363 73.23±3.66 52.66±2.63 44.56±2.23 34.70±1.74 18.70±0.94 24.20±1.21 303.00±15.15

600 43.23±2.16 17.80±0.89 32.36±1.62 8.008±0.400 80.67±4.03 59.58±2.98 52.25±2.61 42.88±2.14 23.50±1.18 31.30±1.57 399.00±19.95

1200 51.79±2.59 21.31±1.07 34.55±1.73 9.083±0.454 91.50±4.58 69.73±3.49 66.17±3.31 41.02±2.05 39.40±1.97 42.80±2.14 574.00±28.70

2400 55.40±2.77 22.87±1.14 37.67±1.88 9.901±0.495 99.04±4.95 77.90±3.89 70.89±3.54 43.58±2.18 50.10±2.50 54.70±2.73 682.00±34.10

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.10 1.68 2.86 0.730 7.34 5.46 4.76 3.40 2.60 2.97 37.46

C.D. (P=0.01) 5.83 2.39 4.07 1.039 10.44 7.76 6.76 4.84 3.70 4.23 53.28


acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Vaishali’* Spore inoculum levels

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)





(%)


(%)

Number of Chlamydo-

spores (100g) soil

Control 38.79±1.94 13.00±0.65 26.17±1.31 5.414±0.271 54.69±2.73 45.50±2.27 32.63±1.63 22.57±1.13 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00±0.00

150 39.62±1.98 13.56±0.68 27.88±1.39 5.967±0.298 62.20±3.11 51.15±2.56 38.57±1.93 26.44±1.32 13.20±0.66 22.20±1.11 203.00±10.15

300 42.12±2.11 14.42±0.72 29.17±1.46 6.324±0.316 64.31±3.22 58.36±2.92 45.46±2.27 30.00±1.50 17.30±0.87 32.50±1.63 323.00±16.15

600 44.60±2.23 15.21±0.76 31.23±1.56 6.632±0.332 67.97±3.40 64.48±3.22 53.31±2.67 36.92±1.85 22.40±1.12 41.30±2.07 401.00±20.05

1200 53.68±2.68 18.77±0.94 36.02±1.80 7.968±0.398 81.66±4.08 73.27±3.66 66.90±3.34 45.16±2.26 36.50±1.83 57.90±2.90 474.00±23.70

2400 58.39±2.92 20.69±1.03 39.32±1.97 8.772±0.439 89.41±4.47 82.52±4.13 75.15±3.76 56.32±2.82 48.80±2.44 69.00±3.45 568.00±28.40

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.31 1.49 2.95 0.640 6.56 5.85 4.91 3.45 2.47 3.37 35.77

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.13 2.12 4.20 0.911 9.33 8.32 6.98 4.91 3.51 4.79 50.88


A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 26 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Rashmi’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

be

r of

fru

its/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(m

g/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ext

ern

al c

olon

iza

tion

(%)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nitr

ogen

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Pho

spha

te c

onte

nt(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80


A B C D E F

Chl

am

ydos

por

es/

10

0g

soil

0

200

400

600

800


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

con

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

A = Control, B = 150, C = 300, D = 600, E = 1200, F = 2400

Fig. 27 Effect of different spore inoculum levels of AM fungus, G. fasciculatum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, N P K contents, per cent colonization and number of chlamydospores infecting tomato variety ‘Vaishali’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of

frui

ts/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50

Dry

wei

ght

(g)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Chl

orop

hyll

cont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

con

tent

(m

g/1

00

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ext

ern

al c

olon

izat

ion

(%)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nitr

ogen

co

nten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Inte

rna

l col

oniz

atio

n(%

)

0

20

40

60

80

Pho

sph

ate

cont

ent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Chl

amyd

osp

ores

/10

0g

soil

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700


A B C D E F

Pot

ass

ium

co

nten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nutrient contents

Significant improvement in nutrient contents of all the screened varieties of tomato

was observed at all the inoculum levels of G. fasciculatum except at 150 spores/plant (Tables

20-29).

Inoculation of G. fasciculatum caused the maximum enhancement in nitrogen content

in Marglobe variety (77.36%) and minimum in Rashmi variety (55.19%) at 1200

spores/plant. No significant improvement in nitrogen content was noticed in plants inoculated

with 2400 spores/plant as compared to those inoculated with 1200 spores/plant.

Maximum phosphorus was recovered from Pusa Ruby (147.66%) followed by Pusa-

120 (146.29%), Pusa Early Dwarf (140.63%) and Raina (91.24%) varieties.

Similarly, highest potassium content was obtained from variety Pusa Ruby (114.25%)

but the lowest one recorded in variety Rupali (69.91%). Other varieties showed more or less

the same pattern as reported earlier.

Mycorrhization parameters

All the tested varieties of tomato were found positively correlated with the different

inoculum levels of G. fasciculatum in terms of mycorrhization such as number of

chlamydospores in root system and an internal as well as external colonizations when

compared graphically also (Figures 18-27). Mycorrhization gradually increased with the

corresponding increase in inoculum levels. The highest number of chlamydospores/100 g of

soil were recovered from the variety Pusa Ruby (639 spores) followed by Pusa 120 (625

spores), Pusa Early Dwarf (622 spores) and Raina (334 spores). Highest external colonization

was recorded in Best of All (66.1), whereas lowest one observed in Raina variety (30.66).

Internal colonization was found maximum in a variety Pusa Ruby (74.20) and minimum in

variety Raina (38.2) at 1200spores/plant. Further improvement in mycorrhization observed at

2400 spores/plant was found statistically insignificant.

Summary

• The following conclusion were drawn from the results presented in the tables as well as

in figures.

• Plant-growth parameters such as fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits,

chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and nutrient contents of all the tested varieties

of tomato, viz. Pusa Ruby, Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa-120, Marglobe, Best of All, Rashmi,

Rupali, Raina and Vaishali were greatly improved at different inoculum levels (150, 300,

600, 1200, and 2400 spores/plant) of G. fasciculatum, however to varying extent.

• The improvement in fresh weight was directly proportional to the improvement in pod

numbers, chlorophyll content and ascorbic acid contents.

• Different inoculum levels of G. fasciculatum progressively increased the productivity

parameters in all the tested varieties of tomato.

• Significant improvement in growth parameters and N, P, K contents was observed at the

inoculum level of 1200 spores/plant inoculum level.

• The inoculum level of 1200spores/plant was found to be the threshold level and was

used for other experiments in the present study.

• Much improvement in the tomato plants was observed at inoculum level of

2400spores/plant but was not found statistically significant as compared to 1200

spores/plant.

• The number of chlamydospores was found maximum in a variety “Pusa Ruby” and

minimum in “Raina” which showed positive correlation to the enhancement of growth

parameters.

• The percent colonization in the form of internal as well as external was again found

maximum in “Pusa Ruby” and minimum in “Raina”.

• Variety “Pusa Ruby” was found more suitable for showing improvement in

mycorrhization and “Raina” did not exhibit much improvements.

Screening against biological nitrogen fixer Azotobacter chroococcum

Plant-growth parameters like fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits,

chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and nutrient contents (N, P, K) of all the tested

varieties of tomato, viz., Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa 120, Pusa Ruby, Pusa Uphar, Marglobe,

Best of All, Raina, Rupali, Rashmi and Vaishali and showed great improvements at different

inoculum levels (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5g/pot) of A. chroococcum, however to varying

extent (Tables 30-39). The improvement in fresh weight was found directly proportional to

the improvements in dry weight, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content

and N, P, K contents of different tomato varieties.

Fresh weight

Fresh weight of different varieties of tomato increased gradually with the

corresponding increase in inoculum levels of A. chroococcum. Maximum fresh weight was

recorded in a variety Pusa Ruby (72.19%) Figure 30 and minimum in Vaishali (24.48%) at

inoculum levels of 2.0g/plant (Figure 37). However, significant improvement in fresh weight

was observed in the plants inoculated with 0.5g A. chroococcum/plant and onwards. Higher

inoculum level (2.5g/plant) further improved the fresh weight but not at par with 2.0g/plant.

Dry weight

Plant’s dry weight of all the tested varieties of tomato also increased with the increasing

inoculum levels of A. chroococcum. Maximum dry weight was obtained from variety Pusa

Ruby (77.23%) followed by Pusa Early Dwarf (74.55%), Pusa 120 (74.0%), Best of All

(68.73%), Pusa Uphar (67.19%), Rupali (55.26%), Marglobe (54.12%), Raina (39.19%),

Vaishali (31.16%) and Rashmi (30.03%) (Figures 28-37).


The number of fruits of all the screened varieties of tomato was greatly improved with the

different inoculum levels of A. chroococcum (Tables 30-39). All the inoculum levels except

0.5g/plant significantly improved the number of fruits, but inoculums level 2.0g/plant was

found more prominent as compared to other inoculum levels. Maximum number of fruits

were collected from a variety Pusa Uphar (74.76%) and minimum from Raina (38.88%).

Chlorophyll content

The inoculation of A.chroococcum greatly enhanced the chlorophyll content of all the

tomato varities at the various inoculum levels. The highest chlorophyll content was recorded

in a variety Pusa Ruby (95.67%) followed by Pusa Early Dwarf (73.80%), Pusa 120 (73.16%)

and a variety Raina (43.54%) at the inoculum level 2.0g/plant. Further improvement in

chlorophyll content was observed at inoculum level 2.5g/plant but not at par with previous

ones.


Much improvement was observed in ascorbic acid content of all the varieties of

tomato when inoculated with different inoculum levels of A.chroococcum. In this case also,

more prominent enhancement was noted at inoculum level of 2.0g/plant. Ascorbic acid

content increased progressively and gradually with the increasing inoculum level of A.

chroococcum. Maximum ascorbic acid content was recorded in a variety Pusa Ruby (81.57%)

and the minimum in Vaishali (51.55%) as explained with the help of graphics (Figure 37).

Table 30. Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa Early Dwarf’*

Bacterial inoculum levels (g)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 30.60±1.53 11.57±0.58 22.50±1.13 5.693±0.285 55.60±2.78 36.54±1.83 29.43±1.47 19.67±0.98

0.5 35.63±1.78 14.10±0.71 27.51±1.38 7.165±0.358 69.50±3.47 61.30±3.07 35.36±1.77 29.72±1.49

1.0 38.77±1.94 14.80±0.74 28.80±1.44 7.583±0.379 72.79±3.64 69.79±3.49 44.37±2.22 33.58±1.68

1.5 43.55±2.18 16.91±0.85 31.73±1.59 8.583±0.429 82.08±4.10 93.76±4.69 51.11±2.56 39.53±1.98

2.0 51.58±2.58 20.19±1.01 36.45±1.82 9.894±0.495 94.72±4.74 105.92±5.30 64.26±3.21 53.76±2.69

2.5 54.28±2.71 21.32±1.07 37.66±1.88 10.090±0.505 98.48±4.92 114.00±5.70 72.50±3.63 57.04±2.85

C.D. (P=0.05) 3.97 1.55 2.88 0.766 7.40 7.70 4.67 3.72

C.D. (P=0.01) 5.64 2.20 4.10 1.090 10.53 10.95 6.65 5.29

*Each value is an average of five replicates, Mean ± SD Table 31. Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content,

ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa 120’* Bacterial inoculum levels (g)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 34.52±1.73 12.24±0.61 20.90±1.05 5.507±0.275 59.35±2.97 38.14±1.91 33.54±1.68 22.60±1.13

0.5 39.85±1.99 14.39±0.72 25.94±1.30 6.840±0.342 72.88±3.64 61.45±3.07 38.40±1.92 33.87±1.69

1.0 42.83±2.14 15.56±0.78 27.20±1.36 7.321±0.366 76.82±3.84 72.43±3.62 50.47±2.52 38.19±1.91

1.5 48.36±2.42 17.65±0.88 30.20±1.51 8.128±0.406 86.57±4.33 91.96±4.60 58.20±2.91 43.32±2.17

2.0 58.05±2.90 21.29±1.06 33.98±1.70 9.535±0.477 99.88±4.99 104.50±5.22 71.36±3.57 60.01±3.00

2.5 58.84±2.94 22.23±1.11 37.46±1.87 9.804±0.490 104.70±5.23 110.57±5.53 79.27±3.96 63.19±3.16

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.40 1.61 2.75 0.737 7.82 7.62 5.19 4.15

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.26 2.30 3.91 1.048 11.12 10.84 7.38 5.91

*Each value is an average of five replicates, Mean ± SD

A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5

Fig. 28 Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer, A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa Early Dwarf’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Nitr

ogen

con

ten

t(m

g/k

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Ch

loro

ph

yll c

ont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ph

osp

hat

e co

nte

nt

(mg

/kg)

0

20

40

60

80

Bacterial inoculum levels per pot (g)

A B C D E F

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

co

nten

t (m

g/1

00

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5

Fig. 29 Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer, A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa 120’.

Fre

sh w

eig

ht

(g)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Num

ber

of f

ruits

/pla

nt

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Nitr

oge

n c

on

ten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Ch

loro

ph

yll c

on

ten

t(m

g/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ph

osp

hat

e co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

cont

ent

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

con

ten

t (m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Table 32. Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa Ruby’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 36.57±1.83 12.80±0.64 24.00±1.20 5.680±0.284 52.69±2.63 38.62±1.93 30.44±1.52 21.78±1.09

0.5 42.86±2.14 15.63±0.78 30.22±1.51 7.176±0.359 65.66±3.28 64.13±3.21 35.13±1.76 33.56±1.68

1.0 46.63±2.33 16.44±0.82 31.52±1.58 7.657±0.383 69.12±3.46 77.35±3.87 47.62±2.38 39.18±1.96

1.5 53.24±2.66 19.17±0.96 34.97±1.75 8.691±0.435 77.65±3.88 102.14±5.11 57.00±2.85 55.80±2.79

2.0 62.96±3.15 22.68±1.13 39.84±1.99 11.114±0.556 95.67±4.78 116.00±5.80 70.00±3.50 61.38±3.07

2.5 66.43±3.32 24.20±1.21 41.71±2.09 11.333±0.567 99.40±4.97 133.06±6.65 77.25±3.86 65.12±3.26

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.82 1.74 3.16 0.810 7.21 8.53 4.99 4.42

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.85 2.47 4.50 1.152 10.25 12.13 7.10 6.29


ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa Uphar’* Bacterial inoculum levels (g)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 39.13±1.96 13.26±0.66 25.56±1.28 6.247±0.312 62.80±3.14 42.73±2.14 35.64±1.78 24.84±1.24

0.5 44.60±2.23 15.26±0.76 31.79±1.59 7.933±0.397 76.59±3.83 65.21±3.26 39.48±1.97 35.05±1.75

1.0 48.52±2.43 16.30±0.81 33.00±1.65 8.114±0.406 80.84±4.04 72.31±3.62 50.66±2.53 39.04±1.95

1.5 55.23±2.76 18.70±0.94 35.52±1.78 9.166±0.458 88.92±4.45 85.50±4.28 58.19±2.91 43.33±2.17

2.0 61.01±3.05 22.16±1.11 44.67±2.23 10.257±0.513 99.95±5.00 101.35±5.07 66.29±3.31 52.90±2.65

2.5 65.52±3.28 23.69±1.18 41.40±2.07 10.866±0.543 104.43±5.22 108.50±5.43 77.35±3.87 57.90±2.90

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.89 1.71 3.31 0.824 8.02 7.53 5.12 3.99

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.96 2.43 4.71 1.172 11.41 10.71 7.28 5.67


A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5

Fig. 30 Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer, A.chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa Ruby’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

20

40

60

80

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lan

t

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nitr

oge

n co

nte

nt

(mg

/kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Ch

loro

ph

yll c

on

ten

t(m

g/g

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Pho

sph

ate

con

ten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

co

nte

nt

(mg

/10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nte

nt

(mg

/kg)

0

20

40

60

80

A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5

Fig. 31 Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer, A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Pusa Uphar’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

20

40

60

80

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nitr

oge

n c

on

ten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ch

loro

ph

yll c

ont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Pho

sph

ate

cont

ent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

co

nten

t (m

g/1

00

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nten

t (m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Table 34. Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Marglobe*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 37.10±1.85 10.57±0.53 25.50±1.27 5.930±0.297 58.32±2.92 44.63±2.23 32.94±1.65 21.60±1.08

0.5 41.44±2.07 12.21±0.61 30.14±1.51 7.289±0.364 71.10±3.56 63.12±3.16 36.15±1.81 30.92±1.55

1.0 44.56±2.23 13.01±0.65 31.87±1.59 7.697±0.385 74.15±3.71 60.64±3.03 46.38±2.32 30.06±1.50

1.5 48.41±2.42 13.82±0.69 34.34±1.72 8.338±0.417 80.19±4.01 77.18±3.86 54.62±2.73 36.95±1.85

2.0 54.53±2.73 16.29±0.81 38.80±1.94 9.585±0.479 95.89±4.79 88.10±4.41 67.30±3.37 40.85±2.04

2.5 60.16±3.01 17.83±0.89 42.01±2.10 10.522±0.526 105.50±5.27 94.39±4.72 77.45±3.87 43.00±2.15

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.46 1.31 3.16 0.772 7.60 6.77 4.94 3.21

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.34 1.86 4.50 1.098 10.80 9.63 7.03 4.57


ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Best of All’* Bacterial inoculum levels (g)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 33.56±1.68 11.40±0.57 26.00±1.30 5.543±0.277 55.72±2.79 37.84±1.89 30.61±1.53 20.44±1.02

0.5 37.91±1.90 13.27±0.66 32.02±1.60 6.763±0.338 66.94±3.35 60.08±3.00 34.94±1.75 29.73±1.49

1.0 42.72±2.14 15.17±0.76 33.26±1.66 7.204±0.360 71.58±3.58 68.08±3.40 43.98±2.20 32.94±1.65

1.5 46.46±2.32 16.39±0.82 36.92±1.85 7.945±0.397 80.58±4.03 84.44±4.22 50.13±2.51 37.72±1.89

2.0 52.99±2.65 19.23±0.96 40.42±2.02 9.544±0.477 92.70±4.63 97.66±4.88 64.36±3.22 49.03±2.45

2.5 57.26±2.86 23.50±1.18 42.67±2.13 9.893±0.495 96.66±4.83 104.49±5.22 73.52±3.68 53.12±2.66

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.22 1.55 3.30 0.733 7.25 7.19 4.68 3.53

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.00 2.21 4.70 1.042 10.31 10.23 6.65 5.03


A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5

Fig. 32 Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer, A. chroococcum on

fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Marglobe’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

Nitr

ogen

con

ten

t(m

g/k

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Chl

oro

ph

yll c

ont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ph

osp

hat

e co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Asc

orbi

c ac

id c

onte

nt

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

con

ten

t (m

g/kg

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5


fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Best of All’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lan

t

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nitr

oge

n c

on

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ch

loro

phyl

l con

ten

t(m

g/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ph

osp

hat

e co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Asc

orbi

c ac

id c

on

tent

(m

g/1

00

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Table 36. Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Raina’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 42.67±2.13 13.25±0.66 20.52±1.03 6.234±0.312 50.44±2.52 39.73±1.99 28.56±1.43 24.12±1.21

0.5 48.37±2.42 14.84±0.74 22.75±1.14 7.682±0.384 60.63±3.03 47.67±2.38 30.53±1.53 29.63±1.48

1.0 50.52±2.53 16.20±0.81 24.45±1.22 7.948±0.397 63.83±3.19 55.86±2.79 36.78±1.84 33.88±1.69

1.5 53.46±2.67 17.19±0.86 26.18±1.31 8.301±0.415 66.92±3.35 65.01±3.25 46.00±2.30 38.60±1.93

2.0 58.14±2.91 18.44±0.92 28.50±1.42 8.948±0.447 81.30±4.07 73.28±3.66 53.65±2.68 43.67±2.18

2.5 61.91±3.10 19.53±0.98 29.75±1.49 9.620±0.481 84.97±4.25 79.93±4.00 60.00±3.00 41.43±2.07

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.91 1.55 2.37 0.763 6.37 5.65 4.00 3.29

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.99 2.20 3.37 1.085 9.06 8.04 5.69 4.68


ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Rupali’* Bacterial inoculum levels (g)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 37.19±1.86 11.26±0.56 26.65±1.33 5.606±0.280 56.83±2.84 41.49±2.07 30.58±1.53 27.00±1.35

0.5 41.86±2.09 12.79±0.64 30.81±1.54 6.727±0.336 68.65±3.43 56.49±2.82 33.69±1.68 35.70±1.79

1.0 43.43±2.17 13.96±0.70 33.34±1.67 7.265±0.363 72.91±3.65 60.93±3.05 42.17±2.11 38.10±1.90

1.5 46.17±2.31 14.88±0.74 35.80±1.79 7.767±0.388 77.94±3.90 69.80±3.49 51.39±2.57 48.15±2.41

2.0 54.09±2.70 17.48±0.87 40.04±2.00 9.081±0.454 94.49±4.72 77.60±3.88 63.93±3.20 48.35±2.42

2.5 58.26±2.91 18.77±0.94 42.78±2.14 9.831±0.492 102.39±5.12 87.56±4.38 72.20±3.61 51.05±2.55

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.38 1.39 3.26 0.723 7.40 6.20 4.62 3.90

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.23 1.97 4.64 1.028 10.52 8.81 6.57 5.55


A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5


fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Raina’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lan

t

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Nitr

oge

n c

on

ten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ch

loro

ph

yll c

on

ten

t(m

g/g

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ph

osp

hat

e co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70


A B C D E F

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

co

nte

nt

(mg

/10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5


fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Rupali’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lan

t

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Nitr

oge

n c

on

tent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ch

loro

phyl

l con

ten

t(m

g/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ph

osp

hat

e co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80


A B C D E F

Asc

orbi

c ac

id c

on

tent

(m

g/1

00

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Table 38. Effect of different inoculum levels of biological nitrogen fixer A. chroococcum on fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Rashmi’*


Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 35.44±1.77 14.00±0.70 23.65±1.18 5.707±0.285 56.64±2.83 44.93±2.25 29.54±1.48 23.67±1.18

0.5 38.85±1.94 15.57±0.78 27.38±1.37 6.972±0.349 69.62±3.48 51.64±2.58 30.70±1.54 28.83±1.44

1.0 41.24±2.06 16.82±0.84 29.30±1.46 7.225±0.361 73.91±3.70 57.73±2.89 36.97±1.85 33.49±1.67

1.5 42.58±2.13 17.86±0.89 31.50±1.58 7.840±0.392 77.38±3.87 68.68±3.43 45.36±2.27 40.94±2.05

2.0 46.78±2.34 18.20±0.91 34.38±1.72 8.817±0.441 87.20±4.36 75.17±3.76 57.40±2.87 52.63±2.63

2.5 50.03±2.50 22.02±1.10 36.51±1.83 9.572±0.479 94.20±4.71 83.76±4.19 70.83±3.54 59.38±2.97

C.D. (P=0.05) 3.97 1.63 2.85 0.722 7.17 5.96 4.28 3.78

C.D. (P=0.01) 5.65 2.32 4.05 1.026 10.20 8.48 6.09 5.38


ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Vaishali’* Bacterial inoculum levels (g)

Fresh weight (g)

Dry weight (g)




(mg/100g)




Control 38.79±1.94 13.00±0.65 26.17±1.31 5.414±0.271 54.69±2.73 45.50±2.27 32.63±1.63 22.57±1.13

0.5 41.87±2.09 14.41±0.72 29.71±1.49 6.259±0.313 64.53±3.23 53.87±2.69 35.38±1.77 25.83±1.29

1.0 43.77±2.19 15.01±0.75 31.42±1.57 6.635±0.332 67.62±3.38 57.86±2.89 40.61±2.03 26.67±1.33

1.5 46.51±2.33 16.02±0.80 33.00±1.65 7.135±0.357 71.64±3.58 59.23±2.96 45.94±2.30 27.67±1.38

2.0 48.28±2.41 17.05±0.85 36.80±1.84 8.485±0.424 82.64±4.13 70.12±3.51 59.74±2.99 29.81±1.49

2.5 59.58±2.98 21.11±1.06 40.91±2.05 9.001±0.450 90.32±4.52 76.94±3.85 67.45±3.37 30.34±1.52

C.D. (P=0.05) 4.36 1.51 3.09 0.669 6.74 5.68 4.41 2.54

C.D. (P=0.01) 6.20 2.15 4.39 0.952 9.58 8.07 6.28 3.62


A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5


fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Rashmi’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Num

ber

of

fru

its/p

lan

t

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Nitr

og

en c

onte

nt

(mg

/kg)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ch

loro

phy

ll co

nte

nt

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ph

osp

hate

con

ten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80


A B C D E F

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

co

nte

nt

(mg/

10

0g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nte

nt

(mg/

kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

A = Control, B = 0.5, C = 1.0, D = 1.5, E = 2.0, F = 2.5


fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N P K contents of tomato variety ‘Vaishali’.

Fre

sh w

eigh

t (g

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nu

mb

er o

f fru

its/p

lant

0

10

20

30

40

50D

ry w

eigh

t (g

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Nitr

oge

n c

on

ten

t(m

g/kg

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ch

loro

ph

yll c

ont

ent

(mg/

g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

Pho

sph

ate

cont

ent

(mg/

kg)

0

20

40

60

80


A B C D E F

Asc

orb

ic a

cid

co

nten

t (m

g/1

00

g)

0

20

40

60

80

100


A B C D E F

Po

tass

ium

co

nten

t (m

g/kg

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Nutrient contents in plants

The nutrient contents N, P, K in all the test varieties of tomato increased with corresponding

increase in the inoculum levels of Azotobacter (Tables 30-39). Lower inoculum levels did not

cause much improvements whereas higher inoculum levels improved nutrient contents of the

tomato plants significantly. Highest nitrogen content was obtained in a variety Pusa Ruby

(200.37%) followed by Pusa Early Dwarf (189.88%), Pusa 120 (174.01%) and lowest in

Vaishali (54.12%) at inoculum level 2.0g/plant.

Similarly, maximum phosphate content was recorded in a variety Pusa Ruby

(129.99%) and minimum in Vaishali (83.08%). Almost similar trend was noted as that of N

and P contents in case of K content also, where the highest potassium content was recorded in

a variety Pusa Ruby (181.72%) and lowest in Vaishali (32.10%) at inoculum level

2.0g/plant.

Summary

The following inferences were drawn from the results presented in the tables as well as in

figures.

• All the varieties of tomato such as Pusa Ruby, Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa-120, Marglobe,

Best of All, Rashmi, Rupali, Raina and Vaishali were greatly benefitted by

A.chroococcum at all the inoculum levels, viz. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5g/plant in terms

of growth parameters like fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, ascorbic acid

content, chlorophyll content and nutrient contents (N, P, K) however, to varying degree.

• The improvement in growth parameters was found positively correlated with each

other.

• Gradual improvement was noted in N, P, K contents of all the screened tomato varieties

at different inoculum levels of A. chroococcum.

• Overall enhancement in various growth parameters and N, P, K contents was noted in

all such varieties which were inoculated with 2.0g of A. chroococcum per plant.

• The inoculum level 2.0g/plant was found to be the threshold level and was used in

further experiments of this study.

• Much improvement in growth parameters of the tomato varieties was determined at

2.5g/plant but not at par with 2.0g/plant.

• The variety ‘Pusa Ruby’ exhibited maximum improvement in all the growth parameters

and N, P, K contents. Hence, the variety was considered as most appropriate to be

selected for further experiments.

• The various growth parameters and N, P, K contents in variety ‘Raina’ were not

significantly improved by A. chroococcum.

DISCUSSION

All the tested varieties of tomato, viz. Pusa Ruby, Pusa 120, Rupali, Raina, Pusa

Uphar, Best of all, Vaishali, Rashmi, Pusa Early Dwarf and Marglobe were evaluated for

their reaction in term of reduction in growth parameters like fresh as well as dry weights,

chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, number of fruits, and N, P and K contents to

different inoculum levels of the root-knot nematode M. incognita. Varying degree of

susceptibility among all the tested varieties was observed against M. incognita. Variety Pusa

Ruby was found highly susceptible to M. incognita while a variety Vaishali showed

resistance to the said pathogen upto some extent. Several studies have also been conducted to

evaluate the reaction of tomato varieties to M. incognita (Zhang De et al., 2010; Sajid et al.,

2011). In these studies, the reaction of different varieties was assessed only on the basis of

disease development like root-knot development or population of the pathogens whereas in

the present investigation various growth parameters like fresh and dry weights, number of

fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N, P, K contents have been taken into

consideration to obtain more accurate assessment of susceptibility to the test pathogen.

The reduction in growth parameters and N, P and K contents due to M. incognita

increased with increasing inoculum levels. Similar results have also been reported by (Tiyagi

and Alam 1990; Jiskani et al ., 2008). The reduction in the plant growth may be due to

physiological and structural changes caused by M. incognita. Root-knot nematodes like many

other obligate parasites are capable of disturbing the host metabolism. Thomson et al. (1959)

reported that the activity of the root-knot nematodes may alter the metabolism of the host

plants in such a manner that it is no longer able to withstand the attack of the pathogens. The

changes in the physiological and biochemical processes of infected host as a consequence of

a disturbed metabolism decide whether the host becomes susceptible or resistant to nematode

attack. In susceptible varieties, the root-knot nematodes penetrate roots in the form of second

stage juveniles (j2) to establish a feeding site usually with in the pericycle and vascular tissues

and form giant cells soon after their infection (Agrios, 2005). Intensive root galling in the

susceptible varieties at higher inoculums levels seriously reduces root efficiency of

absorption of water and minerals for pre-mature defoliation and hamper the plant growth.

Significant reduction was also observed in the photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll due

to M. incognita. Decrease in chlorophyll content in susceptible plant adversely affect the

photosynthetic process, which in tern, impede development of metabolic functions of tomato

plants in terms of reduced fresh as well as dry weights, number of fruits, delayed flowering

ultimately resulting reduced yield (Melakeberhan et al ., 1985). Moreover, the nematode

invasion is known to bring a change in the concentration of nutrient elements in plants such

as Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and K etc. which play a vital role for constituents of plants like Fe and Mn

in the process of photosynthesis. Even small changes in the concentration of these nutrient

elements in plants, appear to have great impact on host physiology, which in turn appears to

be the major cause in limiting the growth of the host plants and causes imbalance in the

translocation process (Melakeberham et al ., 1985).

The ascorbic acid content in all the tested varieties of tomato reduced due to the

pathogenic effect of different inoculum levels of M. incognita. The variation in ascorbic acid

content depends mainly on the agronomic condition and varietal differences. Ascorbic acid

content is one of the important components of tomato fruits which functions as one of the

biological oxidation substances and is directly correlated with the fresh as well as dry weights

of plants. Highest susceptible variety Pusa Ruby showed greater reduction in this content

while minimum was observed in the resistant variety Vaishali. These results are in agreement

with those of (Farooqui et al., 1980; Tiyagi et al., 2003). The reduction in growth and other

parameters resulted reduced pod numbers. The reduction in pod numbers may be due to

reduced food supply to the fertile branches (Tiyagi and Alam, 1989, 1990) and due to the

deficiency of mineral nutritions (Melekaberham, 1985).

The rate of multiplication of Meloidogyne incognita was adversely affected by

increasing inoculum levels. Such observations have also been reported by several workers

(Tiyagi and Alam, 1989, 1990). The reason for the reduction in nematode multiplication with

increasing inoculums levels may be due to the competetion for food and space. All the

inoculum levels of M. incognita significantly reduced plant growth and increased number of

root-galls and nematode population both in roots and soil. The rate of nematode population

increased and reproduction factor decreased with the increasing inoculum levels of M.

incognita. Similar results were also obtained by Jiskani et al. (2008) on tomato plants.

The N, P and K contents in plants were significantly reduced due to M. incognita in

all the varieties of tomato however, to varying extent. The total N, P and K in plants

decreased with increasing inoculum levels which corresponds with a decline in fresh as well

as dry weights. Plants mineral alterations due to nematode infection have been reported by

several workers. Oteifa (1952) found that infection by M. incognita decreased the total

amount of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in bean plant.

All the tested varieties of tomato, viz. Pusa Ruby, Pusa 120, Rupali, Raina, Pusa

Uphar, Best of All, Vaishali, Rashmi, Pusa Early Dwarf and Marglobe showed a varying

degree of improvement in growth parameters like plant fresh as well as dry weights, number

of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content and N, P, K contents at different

inoculum levels of chlamydospores of G. fasciculatum viz., 150, 300, 600, 1200 and 2400.

Better growth in the tomato plants could be due to enhanced nutrient contents of the plants as

was reported earlier by various workers (Raju et al., 1990; Jothi and Sundarababu, 2000).

Although the inoculum level of 1200 spore/plant was found most effective among all the

tested levels of Glomus fasciculatum with respect to growth parameters and N, P, K contents

in plants. The increase in growth parameters was more in plants inoculated with higher

inoculum levels of the G.fasciculatum. There are several reports of positive effect in relation

to growth parameters due to addition of AM fungi (Hasan et al., 2003). The improvement in

plant-growth characterstics in mycorrhizal plants compared to control indicates the existence

of complex between G. fasciculatum and tomato for better physiological and biochemical

relationships. AM fungi have been reported to alter the physiology of roots of their host

(Graham et al., 1981) and photosynthetic rate (Allen et al., 1981).

The increase in N, P and K contents of the tomato plants due to G. fasciculatum

inoculation indicates that the native isolates of AM fungi improved the absorption of host

plants. This observation supports earlier findings that mycorrhizal infection can cause a

beneficial physiological effect on host plants by increasing uptake of soil phosphorus

(Gerdemann, 1975) and also helps in the transport of P in cowpea (Manjunathan and

Bhagyaraj, 1984). Improved nutrient status in the mycorrhizal plants resulted increase

biomass production and growth potential which supports the view that increased absorptive

surface area contributed by fungal mycelium allows phosphorus uptake from a much greater

soil volume (Tinker, 1975; Rhodes and Gerdemann, 1978) and frequently enhance the host

growth particularly in P deficient soils (Mosse, 1973). Mycorrhizal infection has been shown

to affect the population of rhizosphere organisms (Meyer and Lindermann, 1986) which

influenced plant growth through hormone production and changes in nutrient availability

(Tinker, 1984). Enhanced absorption and accumulation of several nutrients such as N, P, K,

Zn, Mn, Fe, Ca and S in mycorrhizal plants have been reported by many researchers (Selvaraj

et al., 1986; Dhillon, 1992). Similarly, enhanced dry weight in mycorrhizal plants has been

observed by many workers (Reddy and Bagyaraj, 1990; Ramraj and Shanmugan, 1990),

which may be related to the higher photosynthetic activity. The present study indicates that

AM fungi enhanced plant acquisition of mineral nutrients and increase the ability of host

plants to withstand or reduce acquisition of toxic elements to plant growth. Similar results

were obtained by Davies et al., (1992) and Clark, (1997). Mycorrhizal fungi caused

significant improvement in dry weight, number of fruits, nutrient contents and

mycorrhization more than non-mycorrhizal plant (Utkhede, 2006).

One of the possible mechanism involved in P absorption is that plants colonized by

AM fungi significantly enhanced the growth regulating compounds such as gibberellins,

auxins, and cytokinins (Linderman, 1992). Improvement in ascorbic acid content of tomato

fruit due to the application of VAM may be due to production and synthesis of hormones and

vitamins with enhanced enzymatic activity in VAM treated soil (Maronik and Vasilchenko,

1964). The vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae symbiosis increases the supply of mineral

nutrients to the plants, particularly those whose ionic forms have poor mobility or those

present in low concentrations in the soil solution, which mainly applies to phosphate,

ammonium, zinc and copper (Barea et al., 2005). The higher spore number of G.

fasciculatum may be either due to conducive edaphic factors for sporulation like nutrient

status, high aeration or undisturbed nature of the soil, which allow sufficient time for build up

of mycorrhizal spores (Aziza and Omar, 1991).

In the present study, G. fasciculatum at 1200 spores/plant has been found efficient in

overall enhancement in growth parameters including N, P and K status of the tomato cultivars

notably in ‘Pusa Ruby’. Similar results have been obtained in Casava by Sulochana et al.

(1995) and in chickpea by Singh and Verma (1987), where G. fasciculatum proved to be the

most effective one in the respective crop. It could be therefore designated as the potential

inoculant for largely grown ‘Pusa Ruby’ variety for successful improvement in plant growth

and yield.

Significant improvement was also observed in growth parameters such as fresh as

well as dry weights, number of fruits, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content including the

N, P and K contents in all the tested varieties of tomato at the different inoculum levels, viz,

0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 g/plant of Azotobacter chroococcum. The growth parameters were

found to be directly proportional with an increase in inoculum levels of A. chroococcum.

Among the tomato varieties, the highest plant growth was recorded in a variety Pusa Ruby

and the lowest in Vaishali. Jackson et al. (1964) observed accelerated growth of tomato due

to the inoculation of Azotobacter. Mishutin (1966) demonstrated that bacterial biofertilizers

improved yield of a wide range of crop plants especially vegetables. Natrajan (2002) reported

that Azotobacter application increased the yield of crop plants by enhancing the biological

efficiency of crop plants. The application of biofertilizer A. chroococcum is responsible for

full development of the plants. The application of biofertilizers like Azotobacter

chroococcum favoured the nutrient availability in the soil and thereby uptake by the crop

reflected in improved growth. Similar results were obtained by Sharma et al. (2008) in fruit

yield with the application of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers. The increase in growth is

also expected due to increased microbial biomass in the soil which increases mineral

nutrition. The biofertilizer like Azotobacter continuously provided biologically fixed nitrogen

to plants and secreted beneficial growth promoting substances like indole acetic acid,

gibberellic acid (Tilak, 1991), kinetins, riboflavin and thiamine which resulted higher yield

(Malik et al. , 2005; Das et al ., 2006) and also released siderophores which act as chelating

agents for iron that increase the availability of this element (Marina et al ., 2001). Sharma et

al. (2005) also reported increased biological nitrogen fixation with the application of

Azotobacter chroococcum caused higher vegetative growth in apple trees.

The ascorbic acid content increased significantly at all the inoculum levels of

Azotobacter chroococcum but was more pronounced at the higher inoculum levels. Patil et al.

(2004) also recorded highest ascorbic acid content in biofertilizer treated plants. The

improvement in these quality attributes might be due to improvement in soil physical

properties like porosity, water holding capacity, decreased bulk density and tendency of soil

towards neutral pH soil range which in turn increased the microbial biomass pool in the

rhizosphere soil. The increase in chlorophyll content in leaves due to increased N uptake by

the plants supplied constantly due to nitrogen fixation of Azotobacter, also increased

photosynthetic efficiency, translocation of nutrients and other metabolites to vegetative as

well as reproductive part of the plants. Similarly, Khanzada et al. (2003) found that regular

supply of N due to the inoculation of Azotobacter greately increased chlorophyll synthesis in

leaves and ultimately the photosynthetic activity and nitrogen concentration per unit dry

mass. Rajaee et al. (2007) also reported that free living nitrogen fixing micro-organisms such

as Azotobacter and Azospirillum enhanced root development, increased water and mineral

uptake and produced plant hormones that might be responsible for improvement in various

growth parameters of tomato. Khan et al. (2012) also observed the positive effects of

Azotobacter chroococcum on growth and yield attributes of chilli plants in field conditions.

Much improvement was noted in plants height, number of branches/plant, green fruits/plant

and N, P, K contents in plants as well as in soil.

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