Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Shahed University
2 Islamic Azad University
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are one of the most important plant parasitic nematodes in the world that damage a wide range of plants. Due to the heavy costs of using nematicides and their adverse environmental effects, today there is an increased desire to find eco-friendly control methods. In the current study, the effect of adding crushed masses of plant organs of thyme (Thymus vulgaris), French marigold (Tagetes patula), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), balango shirazi (Lallemantia royleana) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomillae) to the soil of seedlings tomatoes infected with the RKN, Meloidogyne javanica were studied under greenhouse. After nematode sampling and propagation, nematode inoculum (10 second instar larvae per gram soil) and plant dry mass (zero, 5, 10, 25 and 50 g/kg of soil) were added to the soil and homogenized. The soil was transferred to pots and then tomato cv. Super Chief seedlings were cultivated. The plants were kept in the greenhouse at a temperature of 27±2 °C and natural light (May and June) for two months. After that, the test was stopped and nematode activity was studied by recording the number of galls and egg masses in each root and the nematode reproduction factor. As results, the residue of the tested plants caused a significant (P≤0.05) decrease in the activity of M. javanica on tomato roots. The highest suppression of the nematode was observed on marigold, fennel, thyme, balango shirazi and chamomile, respectively. As a conclusion, the use of some plant residues improves the soil and reduces the activity of RKNs.
Keywords
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