Incidence of Root-Knot Disease Caused by Meloidogyne spp. Nematodes on Celery (Apium graveolens L.) in Landasan Ulin Utara, Banjarbaru City

Abstract

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is a horticultural commodity of high economic value; however, its productivity often declines due to root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne spp. nematodes. Infestation is characterized by symptoms such as leaf yellowing, stunted growth, and even plant death. This study aimed to determine the incidence level of root-knot disease in celery cultivated in Landasan Ulin Utara Urban Village, Banjarbaru City. The research was conducted from October 1 to 31, 2025, using a survey method involving direct field observation. Sampling was carried out using a purposive sampling technique with a diagonal cross pattern. The celery cultivation area was divided into five observation plots, each comprising ten observation points. Observations included identifying disease symptoms, assessing disease incidence, and performing descriptive data analysis. The results revealed variations in root-knot disease incidence levels across the observation plots. The incidence percentages for each plot were 30.14% (P1), 37.30% (P2), 94.30% (P3), 73.01% (P4), and 80.27% (P5), respectively. The highest incidence value reached 94.30%, with an overall average incidence of 63%, which is considered high. The high incidence level is suspected to be influenced by suboptimal planting spacing, environmental conditions favoring nematode development, the use of uncertified seeds, continuous monoculture cultivation, and uncontrolled use of chemical pesticides.