Report on association of plant parasitic nematodes in large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) at Sikkim, Himalaya region of India: Plant parasitic nematodes in large cardamom in Sikkim

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.), is a major cash crop grown in Sikkim Himalaya region. The crop is found to be affected by many pests (insects and diseases); which hinders the production, productivity as well as quality of the produce. Based on symptoms in this crop, similar to nematode infestation, soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of different large cardamom fields and analyzed for presence of nematodes. Laboratory analysis revealed the association of six nematode species with large cardamom viz., Meloidogyne incognita, Helicotylenchus spp., Hoplolaimus sp., Tylenchorhynchus annulatus, Pratylenchus sp. and Macroposthonia spp., of which Meloidogyne incognita and Pratylenchus sp. were recorded in roots also and the percentage of occurance was 59.09. Apart from Meloidogyne incognita, all other five nematode species were recorded for the first time in large cardamom. Helicotylenchus spp. was the dominant genera among the six genera with 50% occurrence, 61.56 % relative abundance and 60 nematodes per 200 cc soil