An Eco-Friendly Approach for The Management of Root-Knot Nematodes in Tomato

Authors : Shraddha Timsina

Pages : 33-35

View : 46 | Download : 48

Publication Date : 2023-12-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are microscopic soil-borne pests that pose a significant threat by infesting the roots of numerous plant species, leading to severe damage and yield losses. RKNs have a unique ability to survive in the soil for extended periods, even in the absence of a host plant which has increased its threat by making it more devastating. An experiment was conducted in a naturally infected tomato field at the Lamjung campus to assess the effectiveness of various treatments in managing Root-knot nematodes in tomato plants. The treatments; Neem cake, chicken manure, Lantana camara, Trichoderma,and Fosthiozate, were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated four times. Disease parameter i.e., the root-knot index was recorded along with the growth parameter yield at the time of harvest. Chicken manure was found to be most effective regarding the reduction of a root-Knot index (0.87) and also resulted in the highest yield (12.38 t/ha) compared to the other treatments. Neem cake and Lantana camara were also significantly effective. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between the gall index and fruit yield of tomato plants at a 0.00 level of significance.
Keywords : Root knot nematodes, tomato, Meloidogyne incognita, botanicals, management