Induced systemic resistance to Meloidogyne spp by <i>β</i>,amino butyric acid in tomato

Abstract

β,amino butyric acid (BABA) induced resistance against Meloigogyne spp in tomato. Significantly (p = 0.05) less, 41.11 second stage juveniles (J2) enter the roots of treated than, 116.66 J2 in untreated control plants. Root fresh and dry weight (Rfw, Rdw) were 2.87 and 0.12 g in treated compared with 4.78 and 0.30 g in nematode infected control plants respectively, 30 d after nematode inoculation. Sfw and Sdw were 8.62 and 0.60 g compared with 3.94 and 0.22 g in control plants. Foliage spray at 40 and 20 mM of BABA was more effective than 10 and 5 mM treatments. The former two concentrations recorded the lowest, average gall index, 2.11 compared with 3.33, 4.11, and 5 for the latter two concentrations and nematode infected control respectively. Results also indicated that treatments with BABA prior to nematode inoculation were superior in inducing resistance to Meloidogyne spp over treatment at the time or after nematode inoculation.