Abstract

This greenhouse study was carried out in 1999 and 2000 cropping season to identify the ginger varieties in the ginger bank at Umudike that were resistant to root – knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. The soil around the roots of four –week old ginger seedlings were inoculated with approximately 1,000 Meloidogyne eggs each. After four weeks of development of the nematodes in the ginger test plants, the ginger root systems were harvested and evaluated for nematode damage, rated for gall index and the numbers of females were counted. The densities of the Meloidogyne eggs in the roots at the end of the experiments, were carried out by differential staining followed by counting with aid of a stereomicroscope. Differences in gall index, number of females and total number of eggs in the root systems were observed among the varieties at the end of the experiment. The screening study was repeated for confirmations in year 2000. Results showed that of the seven available varieties in the ginger bank, three (Maran, U.G I and Rio de Jenairo) were resistant while three (U.G II, Himachall Pradesh and St. Vincent) were susceptible and one (Wynad Local) was tolerant in first year. In the second year 2000, U.G II was tolerant while Maran was susceptible. It is remarkable that as low as 1,000 eggs per plant can cause much damage to the roots and that both U.G I and Rio de Jenairo were clearly resistant and could be recommended as intercropping components to farmers. Keywords: Ginger, Meloidogyne spp., Resistance screening, Umudike.