Possible Use of Amaranth as Catch Crop for Root-Knot Nematodes Intercropped with Mulberry

Amaranth and mulberry were grown together along a ring in a large circular vessel; Meloidogyne incognita larvae (J2) were applied as an inoculum at the center of the ring so that all the plants were equidistant from the larvae. A control vessel containing the same plants without inoculation was maintained simultaneously. Plants were harvested 70 days after inoculation. Of the two plant species, amaranth received maximum infection in terms of ischolar_main-gall number, ischolar_main protein content, and nematode population in ischolar_main and plant growth parameters. Thus amaranth could serve as highly effective catch crop/trap crop protecting other susceptible crops from invading larvae. The relative size and biomass of ischolar_main system are responsible for relative susceptibility between two plants.