Koshy, P.K.Sosamma, V.K.2014-06-122014-06-122007-02-08Journal of Plantation Crops 1996 suppl. p 157-165http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2794The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis is the most important nematode infecting coconut in South India. The pathogenic effects of R. similis on growth, flowering and yield of coconut cv. West Coast Tall was established under field conditions. Decrease in growth parameters of inoculated palms was corresponding to the increase in inoculum level and differed significantly from control. All the uninoculated palms came to flowering during 65-83 months after planting compared to 67-132 months in inoculated palms. However, the palms that received an initial inoculum of 1000 nematodes and above did not yield any nuts even after 11 years of planting. The control palms produced a total of 624 nuts compared to 186 nuts by palms that were inoculated initially with 100 nematodes. Final populations of nematodes did not differ significantly between treatments. The economic threshold level of R. similis on coconut (WCT) is 100 nematodes per seedling in loamy sand under the experimental conditions.enArticle