Author: F. SHAHINA AND Y.I. ERUM

Publishing Date: 2005

E-ISSN: 0255-7576

Volume 23 Issue 1

ABSTRACT:

Betel vine, (Piper betle L.) is an evergreen perennial, dioecious creeper. It is cultivated for the valuable leaves. Its leaves are chewed along with areca nut as masticatory in many parts of the world. In Pakistan, betel vine production is insufficient so it is imported for consumption from Bangladesh, Srilanka, Thailand and India. Betel vine farms of Karachi and suburbs were surveyed and soil and root samples were collected from rhizospheres of betel vine plants. The laboratory analysis of these samples collected during 2003-2004 revealed the presence of 35 genera of nematodes of which 25 are newly reported. Among plant parasitic nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica were found as predominant species occurring on betel vine crop.