Coimbatore : The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has asked farmers, especially buyers of fruit crops seedlings to beware the presence of microscopic worms in it. The University asked farmers to bring randomly bought fruit seedlings for a test at the University.
Coimbatore : The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has asked farmers, especially buyers of fruit crops seedlings to beware the presence of microscopic worms in it. The University asked farmers to bring randomly bought fruit seedlings for a test at the University.
According to a release, these microscopic worms called nematodes are present in the soil. They enter plant roots and cause destruction by way of sucking cell sap or by disrupting the conducting vessels. The release stated that nematodes spread into young seedlings in nurseries through infested nursery soil and materials used for filling polybags such as unsterilized coir pith, cocoa peat, and other potting media.
These nematodes are said to cause small to minute galls in the tiny roots of young fruit seedlings. The release stated that the several fruit seedlings like pomegranate, guava, citrus, and mango are affected due to nematodes. The nematode infested plants will show symptoms of withering soon after planting and within a period of six months to one year, most of the plants succumb, inflicting heavy monitory losses to the farmers.
K Poornima and S Subramanian, Professors of Nematology at TNAU said that buyers should take a careful look at the roots by opening the polythene bags randomly. They added that galls in grafts and rootstocks are quite visible and can be seen with naked eyes while rooted cuttings, layers, and clones exhibit microscopic galls that are not easily recognizable.
The professors advised buyers of nursery materials especially fruit crops such as guava, pomegranate, citrus, and mango to get their randomly purchased materials checked by the Department of Nematology, before making bulk purchases.
According to a release, these microscopic worms called nematodes are present in the soil. They enter plant roots and cause destruction by way of sucking cell sap or by disrupting the conducting vessels. The release stated that nematodes spread into young seedlings in nurseries through infested nursery soil and materials used for filling polybags such as unsterilized coir pith, cocoa peat, and other potting media.
These nematodes are said to cause small to minute galls in the tiny roots of young fruit seedlings. The release stated that the several fruit seedlings like pomegranate, guava, citrus, and mango are affected due to nematodes. The nematode infested plants will show symptoms of withering soon after planting and within a period of six months to one year, most of the plants succumb, inflicting heavy monitory losses to the farmers.
K Poornima and S Subramanian, Professors of Nematology at TNAU said that buyers should take a careful look at the roots by opening the polythene bags randomly. They added that galls in grafts and rootstocks are quite visible and can be seen with naked eyes while rooted cuttings, layers, and clones exhibit microscopic galls that are not easily recognizable.
The professors advised buyers of nursery materials especially fruit crops such as guava, pomegranate, citrus, and mango to get their randomly purchased materials checked by the Department of Nematology, before making bulk purchases.