Suppressive effect of vermicompost on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) on the growth parameters of the vegetable lady’s finger plant, Hibiscus esculentus L (var COBh H₁)

N. Babidha and M. Ramaswamy

Abstract The suppressive effects of vermicompost on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) with reference to above ground and below ground growth parameters were studied in a selected vegetable plant, lady’s finger, Hibiscus esculentus L (var COBh H1) under pot culture experiment in different soil conditions such as in control soil, vermicompost amended soil, nematode inoculated soil and nematode inoculated soil with vermicompost. The suppressive effect of vermicompost on the parasitic effect of the root-knot nematode was well pronounced by significant elevation in the number of flowers and fruits, shoot length, leaf length and leaf area of Hibiscus esculentus grown in nematode inoculated soil with vermicompost compared to those in plants grown in nematode inoculated soil. The primary root length also showed significant increase in plants grown in vermicompost amended nematode inoculated soil which might help the plant to grow deeply thereby avoiding the parasitic effect so as to enhance the uptake of nutrients from deeper soil.

Keywords: Lady’s finger plant, Hibiscus esculentus, root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, vermicompost, growth parameters

The wild edible plants and its contribution to the dietary equilibrium of tribe Cholanaikkans of Nilambur forest, Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Binu Thomas, Ranji, P. Mathews, A.Rajendran and R.Sivalingam

Abstract Nilambur forest is blessed with rich bio as well as ethnic diversity, it is situated in the Western Ghats region of Kerala. The Cholanaikkans are one of the primitive tribe in this forest. The ethnobotanical survey on Cholanaikkans was revealed that, they are using 40 wild plant species belonging to 25 families and 31 genera for edible purposes. It indicates that wild resources play an important role for maintaining dietary as well as health care equilibrium of tribe Cholanaikkans of Nilambur forest, Kerala.

Key Words: Wild edibles, Cholanaikkans, Nilambur forest, Western Ghats, Kerala

 Volume No. 1(2)                                                               December,2012