BP Singh

Treatment Schedules for Eradication ofNematodes from GermplasmRajanIntroductionAvailability of pest (nematode) free germplasm material fromdiverse origins is an important requirement in breeding a cropvariety of desired characteristics. With the movement of germplasmthe nematodes and nematode problems are known to spread fromone region/ country to another. Through men's activities, nematodesare disseminated either due to unconscious efforts or throughmovement of numerous types of plant materials. The importationand exportation of seeds and more so the vegetatively propagatedmaterial such as rooted plants, bulbs, rhizomes and tubers with orwithout soil must always be regarded as a major breach in anyphytosanitary barrier and should be allowed only when the stockis guaranteed to have been in 'soil or growing media free fromquarantine parasites. Most of the times this requirement is not metand a question is posed, what to do with the material which hasbeen imported at a high cost, when examination reveals it to beinfested. It is not always possible to advise for destruction of theinfested material. The other, most practical solution to the problemis to salvage such material.A large number of treatment schedules are available forbringing down the nematode populations to certain levels. Thenematodes which escape/survive through such treatments maymultiply under new environmental conditions and establishthemselves. So the whole objective of keeping an'area virgin from