Crop Loss Estimations due to Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Major Crops in India

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major biotic stress in successful crop cultivation. All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Nematodes in Cropping Systems is entrusted with developing nematode management technologies for varied agro-climatic zones. A precise assessment of crop losses caused by nematodes to crops and periodic update of the same are useful to fix research priorities, besides serving as a benchmark for policy planners/funding agencies for research support and public/private sector to make appropriate investments for developing nematode management products. Based on data generated through AICRP on Nematodes over the years, a critical analysis has been made on losses in different crops. Overall, plant-parasitic nematodes cause 21.3% crop losses amounting to Rs. 102,039.79 million (1.58 billion USD) annually; the losses in 19 horticultural crops were assessed at Rs. 50,224.98 million, while for 11 field crops it was estimated at Rs. 51,814.81 million. Rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, was economically most important causing yield loss of Rs. 23,272.32 million in rice. Citrus (Rs. 9828.22 million), banana (Rs. 9710.46 million) among fruit crops; and tomato (Rs. 6035.2 million), brinjal (Rs. 3499.12 million) and okra (2480.86 million) among the vegetable crops suffered comparatively more losses.