Screening of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm for resistance to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

The root-knot nematode is one of the major limiting factors affecting lentil growth and yield. In the present study, 300 accessions of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) were screened to find source of resistance to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Among them, nine accessions: EC223269, EC076551-C, EC267577-D, EC267555, EC255504, EC267690, IC282663, IC559890 and IC559673 were resistant, while 291 were susceptible to M. incognita. Root gall formation was reduced by 94-98% in the resistant accessions as compared to susceptible (IC560206). The nematode penetration into roots and egg-mass formation in all resistant accessions of lentil were significantly lowered compared to the susceptible accession (IC560206). Results suggest that the disease resistance in lentil accessions may be related to both post-infectional (nematode growth and development) as well as pre-infectional (penetration and establishment) defense mechanisms. Variations in nematode penetration into roots, root gall formation and egg mass formation in the resistant accessions may reflect their genetic differences related to the nematode resistance and their planting could provide a useful tool to manage root-knot nematodes in lentil crop.