INDUCED SYSTEMIC RESISTANCE IN EGGPLANT AGAINST THE ROOT KNOT NEMATODES, MELOIDOGYNE SPP BY Β-AMINOBUTYRIC

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) in inducing systemic resistance in eggplant CV. Iraq wonder against root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. BABA was used at 40 mM to soak the seeds for 4 hours and drenching with 2.5 and 5 mM. Dipping seeds in 40mM of BABA and watering the soil with 5mM was found to be more effective in reducing root gall index (gi) , disease severity and the number of second stage juveniles (j2) root penetration, 1.67, 33.3% and 61.67 j2 respectively compared with plants watering with 40 mM only given 2.67, 53.33%, 72.33 j2, and 4, 80%, 120.33 j2 in untreated but nematode infected plants (control) respectively. The reduction of disease severity was associated with promotion the growth of treated plants as manefected by increasing fresh and dry weights of foliage and root system 7.35, 0.74, 0.86, 0.35 g and 5.79, 0.61, 1.08, 0.45 g respectively compared with 4.04, 0.39, 1.24, 0.70 g in control respectively. Treatment with BABA increased the total protein in dry leaves of treated plants compared control. 24.56% in plants resulted from seeds dipped in 40mM BABA and watering with 5mM compared with 21.95% in plants from seeds dipped in 40mM BABA only and with 18.63%.