Severe damage caused by the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, in aerobic rice in India

Abstract

Severe damage to aerobic rice caused by the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, was observed in India. Infected plants showed retarded growth, chlorotic leaves and roots with too many branches and necrotic lesions throughout the cortex, compared to apparently healthy plants of a nearby rice crop. The nematode populations were 406 specimens per 200 cm3 soil and 32 specimens per 0.5 g roots. This is the first report of P. thornei damaging aerobic rice.