Efficacy Assessment of Different Management Strategies on Root Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Tomato Plant

Abstract

Root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. are important pathogens affecting vegetable production including tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum); which is a popular vegetable crop grown in Nepal. Very little work has been done regarding its management. Studies were conducted in the screenhouse under pot conditions to assess the efficacy of fungus Trichoderma harzianum @300g/pot, fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus @ 10ml/pot, mustard cake @30g/kg soil, mixture of cow dung and urine @300g/pot, poultry manure @250g/pot and chemical Furadan (Carbofuran) @1g/kg soil, against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp. in tomato. All together 35 pots with five replication of each treatment inoculated with 4 eggs per gram of soil were placed in RCBD. Nematodes were extracted from the whole root system and 100g-soil sample after 36 days of inoculation. All the treatments except Furadan showed significant reduction in root galling and suppression of the reproduction factor (Rf) of the nematodes; in comparison to control. Analysis of the data showed that the mixture of cow dung and urine, mustard cake and poultry manure application reduced root galling and reproduction factor significantly than the treatment of P. lilacinus, T. harzianum and Furadan. Mustard cake was highly effective than other treatments while the chemical Furadan did not seem to function properly with the highest Rf nearing to the control treatments and GI even greater than the control treatments.