Abstract:
Cultivars of Centella asiatica were found to be infected by species
of Melodogyne, a root knot nematode. Pot experiments under greenhouse
were conducted to determine the effect of this nematode on the yield of
these plants and attempts were also made to investigate suitable control
measures. The use of resistant plants is a highly satisfactory method, which
does not cause environmental pollution. In this study six cultivars of Centlla
asiatica were tested for their susceptibility to this nematode. Both cultivars
of high yielding type were found to be less resistant to Meloidogyne spp.
whereas var. Mirigama was moderately resistant. Only one was found to
be highly resistant among the types tested.
The loss of yield due to nematode infection was considerable in both
cultivars of high yielding type compared to others, and a 29% loss in the
yield was observed in the most susceptible culitvar tested.
Meloidogyne spp. were effectively controlled using compost. Application
of soil: sand: compost in the proporation of 1:1:4 completely inhibited, and
the same mixture used at 1: 1:2 satisfactorily inhibited the nematode
population giving maximum yield of Centella asiatica under the conditions
tested.
