Integrated management of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) for tomato production and productivity

Abstract

Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, causes significant economic losses to tomato production. Aqueous suspension of rapeseed cake and BioNem WP were evaluated for their effect on root-knot nematode in the laboratory, pot house, nursery and field conditions. In the laboratory, three concentrations of rapeseed cake extracts (5, 10 and 20%) and two concentrations of BioNem extracts (5 and 10%) significantly reduced (p<0.05) the nematode egg hatching as well as juvenile motility over the untreated control. Higher concentration of rapeseed cake (20%) proved most effective in reducing hatching and affecting motility. The application of 0.6 and 0.4 g/pot of BioNem both ten days before transplanting and at the time of transplanting resulted in less gall formation, number of eggs per egg mass and final nematode population over the untreated control in the pot house experiment. The incorporation of 600 kg/ha and 300 kg/ha of rapeseed cake and 150 and 75 kg/ ha of BioNem in the nursery beds reduced the nematode infestation and improved tomato seedling growth as compared to the untreated control. The effects of higher dosages BioNem (150 kg/ha) and rapeseed cake (600 kg/ha) were at par with the chemical treated control (Fenamiphos at 3 kg/ha).

Keywords: BioNem, Meloidogyne incognita, Rapeseed cake, Tomato