www.IndianJournals.com Members Copy, Not for Commercial Sale Downloaded From IP - 14.139.232.165 on dated 10-Sep-2014 Jaydeep Patil et al. 168 Management of Reniform Nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis on Cowpea by using Bio-agents and Plant Extracts JAYDEEP PATIL, M.K. SHARMA, S. BHARGAVA AND A.S. SRIVASTAVA Department of Nematology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur-313001, India Corresponding authors, E-mail: jaydeeppatil9999@gmail.com Received on 18-07-2013 and Accepted on 10-12-2013 ABSTRACT: A pot experiment was carried out under cage house condition for management of R. reniformis infecting Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) by using bio-agents T. viride, Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens (@ 2 g/kg soil) as soil application and plant extracts viz., Lantana (Lantana camara), Aak (Calotropis gigantea) and Ashwaganthan (Withania somnifera) as seed soaking treatment along with chemical (carbofuran 3G @ 1kg a.i/ha) and untreated control. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design block (CRD). Stastical analysis showed that combined effect of T. harzianum @ 2 g/kg soil as soil application and 30 per cent concentration of Lantana (L. camara) as seed soaking proved better over other treatments in enhancing growth parameters of cowpea and minimizing infection of R. reniformis. Key words: Rotylenchulus reniformis, Vigna unguiculata, bio-agents, soil application, plant extracts, carbofuran Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 168-171 Indian Journal of Nematology December, 2013 Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L.) is one of the important kharif pulse crop grown in India. It is a warm season crop, well adapted humid tropics and subtropical zones. Cowpea is tolerant to heat and dry conditions, but is intolerant to frost. Cowpea occupying the important place in pulse crops mainly grown in Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Ajmer, Churu, Pali, Sirohi, Dausa, Bhilwara and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan and cultivated in 1.22 lakh ha with production of 64.36 thousand tonnes and average productivity being 529 kg/ha during 2010-11 (Anon, 2011). The reniform nematode attacks over 140 species of more than 115 plant genera in 46 families (Jatala, 1991). It has been reported to cause 14.9, 8.1, 6.0, 13.2 and 8.7 per cent loss in yield of cotton, maize, finger millet, cowpea, and black gram respectively (Jonathan, 2010) and also cause losses in okra, tomato, lettuce, pointed guard and brinjal (Palaniswamy & Balasubramaniam, 1981). To manage the nematode, chemicals proved effective but due to their hazardous effects and non judicious use have enhanced the development of biological control strategies for integrated management of plant parasitic nematodes with various types of antagonistic organisms (Jatala, 1986). MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiments were carried out to test the effectiveness of different bio-agents and plant extracts on reniform nematode. Pot experiments were conducted during kharif season at Department of Nematology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, at 579.5 m above the MSL, soil is clay to clay loam, the average soil pH being 8.2 and minimum and maximum temperature ranges between 20 to 22 o C. Treatments namely, Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, P. fluorescens (@ 2 g/kg soil) as soil application treatment Aak (C. gigantea), and Ashwaganthan (W. somnifera), Lantana (L. camara) as seed soaking treatment along with chemical (carbofuran 3G @ 1 kg a.i/ha) and untreated control (Table 1). The experiment was conducted in completely randomized block design having four replication in earthen clay pots of 6 inches size filled with reniform nematode infested soil carried from the pure culture field. Earthen pots were washed, cleaned and