Host suitability of date palm seedlings to Meloidogyne incognita as influenced by stress of plant age

The influence of date palm Phoenix dactylifera L., seedling age was determined on nematode reproduction to susceptible date palm cv., Sewi inoculated with root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Seedlings of 4, 3 and 2 month old supported more nematode populations than 0 and 1 month old seedlings as indicated by number of galls and egg-masses on roots and juveniles in soil but they were rated as less affected by root-knot nematode depending their plant growth vigor. It is concluded that younger date palm seedlings seem to require root tissue maturation before expressing full resistance against root-knot nematode.