Distribution and population density of plant parasitic nematodes in Kallakurichi, Vedaranyam and Bargur blocks of Tamil Nadu

India contribute 9 per cent share in world production and one of the main vegetables grown in Tamil Nadu. Major production area of Tamil Nadu is Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Salem and Krishnagiri districts. In India an average, a national loss of Rs. 21,068.73 millions has been estimated due to plant parasitic nematodes. An overall average annual yield loss in major horticultural crops due to nematodes goes upto 60% under protected cultivation. Protected cultivation is an emerging technology for raising vegetable and flower crops under controlled environmental condition and continuous growing of crops. Plant parasitic nematodes has emerged as a major problem, causing enormous yield loss. The maximum population of Pratylenchus spp in soil and root (300.54 and 275.50) were recorded in Veerasolapurammadur village, Kallakurichi block in sugarcane eco system and maximum lesion index 5.0 was recorded in same location and no incidence for root knot nematode was recorded. In Vaedharanyam block, The maximum population of Melodogyne graminicola in soil and root (300.25 and 325.65) were recorded in Neivellakku village, Vedharanyam block in rice eco system and maximum root knot index 5.0 was recorded in same location and no incidence for Aphelenchoides besseyi was recorded. In Barugur block ,The maximum population of lesion nematode, Radopholus similis in soil and root (450.20 and 410.25) were recorded in Santhur village, burgur block in banana eco system and maximum root lesion index 5.0 was recorded in same location and minimum population of root knot nematode (110.20 and 120.54) was recorded in Errapatty village of Burgur block.