Rootknot Nematode (Meloidogynae arenaria and M. incognita):

Small galls or knots are formed on potato roots but they often go unnoticed. Heavily infested plants are stunted and exhibit early maturity. Reduction in size and number of tubers reduces the yield and warty 'pimple-like' outgrowths formed on tubers result in qualitative reduction.

Control: Avoiding use of seeds from infested areas, deep ploughing and drying of soil in summer months facilitate drying of infective larva, burning of trash and following a two year rotational sequence of' maize-wheat-potato-wheat reduces the root-knot damage significantly. Late Panting of autumn crop and early planting of spring crop in North-Western plains reduces nematode damage, while in the hills early planting of summer crop in 4th week of March is ideal. Application of Carbofuran (Furadan 3G) @ 3 kg a.i./ha is recommended for control of nematodes. The pesticide is applied in two split doses, first at planting and second during earthing up.