Response of Eight Tomato Cultivars to Root-knot Nematode, Meloidogyne. javanica, under Glasshouse Conditions

The present study was conducted to evaluate the response to root-knot nematode، Meloidogyne. javanica of seven in glasshouse grown tomato cultivars، two from UK (GH1 & GH12)، two from Thailand (Ajeet & Karina)، and three form India (Manisha، Tolstoi & Cluster 5) plus one local field grown variety from Kohgiluyeh va Boyer-Ahmad Province، in the glasshouse conditions. The factorial experiment was performed using two experimental factors of tomato cultivar and nematode inoculation، in a randomized complete block design of 5 replications. Each and every pot was filled with pasturised soil، with the tomato seedlingsat their six-leaf stage، inoculatedwith2000 second stage larvae of M. javanica. Plantgrowth and nematode reproductive factors were assessed 8 weeks after treatment. The tested tomato cultivars exhibited different levels of susceptibility to the nematode. The cultivars GH12، Ajeet، Manisha and Karina proved to be significantly different from the other ones. Their gall index was recorded 2، so they can be considered as relatively resistant cultivars. Other cultivars، gall index of 4 proved them susceptible to M. javanica. Throughout the study، the local variety was shown to be the most susceptible reducing plant growth and supporting of the nematode population density.