Effect of Initial Density of Meloidogyne javanica on Salvia officinalis

The influence of different initial inoculum densities of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on the growth of sage (Salvia officinalis), root-knot development and nematode multiplication was investigated 90 days after inoculation under greenhouse conditions. With the increase in the nematode initial inoculum densities, shoot fresh/dry weight, shoot/root length and root fresh/dry weight were decreased. The greatest reduction in growth occurred in plants inoculated with the highest density of nematodes (10?000 eggs and juvenile of stage 2.2 kg soil). The highest reproduction rate was observed in plants inoculated with the lowest level of nematode population tested (1?000 eggs and juvenile of stage 2.2 kg soil). The results on S. officinalis gave conclusive evidence of pathogenic potential of M. javanica.