ARS | Publication request: THE EFFECT OF COMBINING SYNTHETIC NEMATICIDES AND ORGANIC NEMATICIDES ON PLANT PARASITIC NEMATODES OF POTATOES

Submitted to: Potato Association of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 1, 2003
Publication Date: August 10, 2003
Citation: RIGA, E.H., COLLINS, H.P. THE EFFECT OF COMBINING SYNTHETIC NEMATICIDES AND ORGANIC NEMATICIDES ON PLANT PARASITIC NEMATODES OF POTATOES. POTATO ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA PROCEEDINGS. 2003. G18, p.35.

Technical Abstract: The majority of nematodes in the soil are free-living, and benefit plants and soil health by contributing to decomposition and release of nutrients. However, frequent use of nematicides can create biological voids in soil ecosystems by removing, or preventing the establishment of beneficial free-living nematodes and other soil microorganisms that are competitors and predators of plant parasitic nematodes. It was hypothesized that application of either organic nematicides or organic amendments preceding synthetic nematicides may lower populations of plant parasitic nematodes, making lower rates of synthetic nematicides a viable option. The effects of Neem Cake, DiTera, Dominator and Liquid Compost Factor (LCF) on the root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne chitwoodi, M. hapla and the free-living beneficial nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans were evaluated in laboratory and greenhouse studies. Neem Cake, DiTera, Dominator and LCF reduced M. chitwoodi and M. hapla, both in the laboratory and greenhouse assays while at the same time they enhanced the free-living nematode populations. Bacterial populations were determined following each soil treatment. Total culturable bacteria and Pseudomonas populations showed a slight increase in numbers with the addition of the biopesticides. The evaluation of the effect of the organic nematicides in combination with low rates of synthetic nematicides is in progress.