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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308577
Title: Efficacy of several soil amendments for the control of Xiphinema index and Meloidogyne javanica on grapevine seedlings in Pakistan

Author
item KHAN, ALY - University Of Karachi
item SHAUKAT, SYED - University Of Karachi
item Handoo, Zafar

Submitted to: International Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2014
Publication Date: 12/1/2014
Citation: Khan, A., Shaukat, S.S., Handoo, Z.A. 2014. Efficacy of several soil amendments for the control of Xiphinema index and Meloidogyne javanica on grapevine seedlings in Pakistan. International Journal of Nematology. 24(2):149-152.

Interpretive Summary: Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that cause global crop losses exceeding $100 billion annually. One approach to solving the problem of designing new, safe means of controlling nematodes is through the application of organic soil amendments or plant extracts. In the present study, ARS and University of Karachi scientists compared four organic amendments (fibrous sugarcane residue, neem leaf powder (a known insect-killing organic fertilizer), sawdust and marigold flower powder) alone and in combination with pesticides in pot experiments to determine if the treatments could reduce population levels of the dagger and the root-knot nematodes, the most economically important nematodes infecting grapevine seedlings in Pakistan. The scientists discovered that the most effective control of both dagger and root-knot nematodes was provided by the chemical nematicide carbofuran; however, both nematodes were highly susceptible to an amendment composed of neem seed and fruit residue, small amounts of the fungicide captan, and either neem leaf powder or marigold flower powder. The least but significant control was achieved with sugarcane residue-containing organic plant extracts. These results are significant because they indicate that the use of these plant products for the management of nematode populations is effective and would be expected to be environmentally friendly compared to synthetic nematicides. This research will be used by scientists developing new methods for controlling nematode-induced crop losses.

Technical Abstract: This study was done to investigate the effect of several organic amendments for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes. The effects of four soil amendments applied individually or in several combinations and a chemical nematicide (carbofuran) on plant-parasitic nematodes associated with the rhizosphere of grapevine (Vitis vinifera var. Shundokhani) seedlings were investigated. The most effective control of both Xiphinema index and Meloidogyne javanica was provided by the chemical nematicide carbofuran. Populations of Xiphinema index and Meloidogyne javanica juveniles were highly susceptible to amendments composed of neem powder + Fertinemakil as well as marigold + Fertinemakil. The least but significant control was achieved with sugarcane bagasse for Xiphinema index and sugarcane bagasse + Fertinemakil for Meloidogyne javanica.