root knot nematode problem in pomegranate

: Close on the heels root knot nematode, a foreign pest, found destroying guava trees, researchers in the department of nemotology in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) noticed presence of such nematode in pomegranate also.
As the area under pomegranate was increasing steadily in Coimbatore, Erode, Dindigul and Tirunelveli districts due to its monitory returns and import value, growers of late are encountering problem of yellowing of leaves, stunting and less productivity of fruits, an official release said today.
Such trees were found to be severely infested with root knot nematodes on assaying of soil and root samples.
As the presence and association of root knot nematode in pomegranate has not been documented so far in Tamil Nadu, it is presumed that the nematode could have spread from other States through saplings, it said.

Therefore they asked pomegranate growers to subject soil and root samples for nematode analysis by sending them their Department here.