Pomegranate and guavas are two important commercial fruit crops grown in
India. These fruit crop plants can be attacked by insect pests, plant pathogens, and
plant-parasitic nematodes, which can reduce the quality and quantity of fruit
production. Diseases caused by plant-parasitic nematodes are of great economic
importance. Many species of plant-parasitic nematodes are found associated with
pomegranates and guavas. Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita and M.
javanica are among the economically important nematode pests of pomegranates in the
world as well as India. In India, these nematodes are a serious problem in Maharashtra
state. Guava orchards are facing symptoms of sudden decline and loss in productivity
due to heavy infestation of a highly pathogenic species of root-knot nematode, M.
enterolobii. The root-knot nematode is spreading to new areas through infected
pomegranate and guava saplings. Management of this nematode is a challenge because
of its polyphagous nature and ability to survive on weed hosts. Different scientific
management strategies are discussed in this chapter.
Keywords: Disease, Guava, Management, Nematodes, Pomegranate.
