Evaluation of pigeon pea varieties against root knot nematode and assessment of yield loss in field condition

Background: Root-knot nematode, M. incognita is a sedentary endoparasite affecting the root system of plant. Infection of nematode cause immense loss of quality of crop and yield by restricting the free flow of nutrients. In this context studies were conducted at Department of Nematology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar. Methods: The present investigation carried out during the kharif season of 2020-2022 to screen and evaluate against M. incognita along with assessment of yield loss in field condition using the paired plot technique. Results: Out of 20 screened varieties, 14 were resistant, IPA-15-1 was moderately resistant, three were susceptible, and variety IPA-79 and CO-6 were highly susceptible. The highest shoot length and fresh weight were found in variety kathi kandula local with 87.1 cm and 24.39 g respectively, while decline in shoot length and fresh weight was greater in variety CO-6 with 72.0 cm and 15.75 g, respectively. Variety IPA-14-7 showed a decrease in root length measuring 28.22 cm. Under carbofuran treated condition, yield was significantly increased 46.89% and avoidable yield loss was 30.98%. Hence identified resistant varieties will serve as resistant gene donors for developing resistant cultivars of pigeon pea to increase the yield of the crop.