Abstract
The root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are one of the most harmful and most ubiquitous, there is no data about their association with cucumber in the Pothowar region of the Punjab province. Therefore, a survey was conducted to assess the incidence and intensity of root-knot nematodes on cucumber in 4 districts of the Pothowar region. The study revealed variation in incidence and severity of root-knot nematodes in the four districts. The incidence of root knot nematodes was the highest in district Rawalpindi (21.86%) followed by 13.89% in Attock. Of the four districts, minimum incidence of 10.97% was recorded from district Jhelum. The maximum mean severity measured in terms of galling index was found in district Rawalpindi (3.79) while the minimum was observed in district Jhelum (1.86). The mean severity of root-knot nematodes in districts of Attock and Chakwal were 2.66 and 2.19, respectively. Of all the associated species of root-knot nematodes, M. incognita constituted 78.53%, M. javanica 19.03%, M. arenaria 1.82 % and M. hapla 0.62%. All the four main Meloidogyne species were found in all the districts of Pothowar region except district Chakwal where M. hapla was not found. M. incognita was predominantly found in the all the four districts.
