Bio-nematicidal effect of botanicals against root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Abstract

Nematicidal efficacy of five botanicals, viz. turmeric (Curcuma longa), marwatulsi (Origanum majorana), mentha (Mentha arvensis), aonla (Phyllanthus emblica) and jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was evaluated under in vitro and in vivo conditions for their larvicidal properties against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in tomato during 2014–16 at Department of Nematology, CCSHAU, Hisar. Methanolic and hexane extracts of turmeric (Rhizome) showed varying degrees of lethality to M. incognita at different concentrations under in vitro conditions. Per cent larval mortality and inhibition of egg hatching were found to be directly proportional to the concentration of extracts and exposure period. In in vivo experiments, growth parameters and nematode reproduction factors (number of galls/ plant, number of egg masses/plant and final nematode population in soil) were evaluated post-treatment with chopped leaves of botanicals. The study showed that the treatment improved plant growth and reduced pathogen indices. The study suggests the representative role of botanicals in managing M. incognita in tomato plants.

Keywords

• Meloidogyne incognita
• Plant extract
• Root-knot nematode
• Tomato
• Larvicide