Abstract
An experiment was conducted in 2023 and 2024 to determine the reaction of canary melon to inoculation with M. javanica eggs in Jalingo, Nigeria. Eggs of M. javanica were inoculated into one-week-old canary melon plant roots at the rate of 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 0 (control) eggs per plant. The experiment was terminated at the end of week six. Data was collected on growth and nematode parameters and analysed. The result showed that among the inoculated treatments, T1 (500 egg treatment) with lowest number of M. javanica eggs showed better growth and nematode parameters than treatments with higher level of egg inoculation. T1 recorded lowest fresh root weight (2.23 g and 2.24 g/plant), lowest soil nematode population (3166.66 and 3162.66), lowest galling index (2.00 and 2.00) and higher fresh shoot weight (10.90 g and 11.40 g/plant) in both 2023 and 2024 respectively. From the result, canary melon will perform better in soil with 500 eggs inoculum than at higher levels and the M. javanica will be easier to manage. Field trial of this experiment is recommended.