Phytonematode Diversity in Tomato Crops of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India: A Comprehensive Survey, Distribution, and Community Analysis

The present study was undertaken to analyze the distribution and community analysis of important plant parasitic nematodes associated with the vegetable crop tomato in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. The study revealed that maximum infestation is observed in somala mandal and least in Chowdepalle mandals of Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. Plant parasitic nematodes viz., Meloidogyne incognita, Hoplolaimus spp., and Tylenchorynchus spp. etc. was found to be associated with tomato crops. It has been observed that M. incognita population was found to be maximum in tomato crops at Chittoor Districts of Andhra pradesh. The prominence value was found to be maximum for root knot nematode in tomato crops having 8.76/200 cc. The data also revealed that M. incognita absolute frequency in tomato was 100% and absolute density is around 87.60% while the genera Hoplolaimus showed the least occurrence frequency of 40% and absolute density of 1.56%. From these studies it can be interpreted that M. incognita is most predominant nematode and cause damage substantially to tomato crop grown in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh.