Interactions between Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) chitwood and rhizobia on growth of Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.

Abstract A screenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of inoculation with Meloidogyne javanica (uninoculated nematode control, low level [1000 eggs pot −1 ] and high level [10,000 eggs pot −1 ]) and rhizobial strains (uninoculated rhizobial control, strains KFR 647 and MBS1312) on nematode infection, nodulation and growth of Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. (sesbania) provenances (Kisii and Kakamega). Heavy nematode infection of sesbania was noted for all three rhizobial inoculation treatments 2 months after sowing, and nodulation and plant growth were affected negatively at the high nematode inoculum level. Shoot dry weights showed negative and positive relationships with nematode infection (gall index) and number of effective rhizobium nodules, respectively. At 3 months, negative effects of the high nematode inoculum level on nodulation and plant growth were observed for rhizobial strain KFR 647 and the uninoculated control, but not for strain MBS 1312. Low nematode inoculum levels did not negatively affect nodulation or plant growth. The two sesbania provenances had similar growth at the high nematode inoculum level, but the Kisii provenance showed better growth than the Kakamega provenance at the low nematode inoculum level.