Diversity ecology and management of plant parasitic nematodes associated with grapevine Vitis spp in Kashmir

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes present a major challenge to grapevine cultivation around the globe, causing significant reductions in growth and productivity of grapevine plants. The present study provides a comprehensive assessment of nematode diversity, prevalence, and impact of ecological as well as edaphic factors on the population dynamics of PPNs associated with three grapevine cultivars in Kashmir, India. Sampling was conducted seasonally, revealing district-specific variations and somehow distinct PPN communities associated with each cultivar. The results of our study revealed the presence of thirteen different genera of PPNs associated with the three grapevine cultivars (viz., Sahibi, Hussaini and Thompson seedless) in Kashmir. These population of these parasites showed a strong correlation with ecological and edaphic soil factors. Soil and air temperature showed a strong positive correlation with the nematode abundance whereas soil moisture and rainfall showed negative correlation with the PPN abundance. To mitigate the adverse effects of PPN infestations, eco-friendly management strategies were investigated through the application of composted cow dung and poultry manure as organic amendments in the experimental plot prepared within the main campus of Kashmir University. Our findings showed that these amendments substantially decrease populations of plant- parasitic nematodes while promoting growth of beneficial free-living and predatory nematodes, crucial for maintaining soil health. Enhanced soil physicochemical properties were also observed, including improvements in organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels, as well as micro-nutrient levels. GC-MS analysis identified bioactive compounds within the manures, suggesting their potential role in suppressing nematode populations and fostering beneficial microbial interactions within the soil. Our study highlights the dual benefits of cow dung and poultry manure amendments for both nematode management and soil quality enhancement...