Rev 04/03/23
Strategies |
Tactics |
A. Reduction of the
initial population.
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(i) Fallow
6-18 months required for most plant-parasitic species; causes depletion of metabolic reserves; consider effect of increasing biological activity.
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A. Reduction of the
initial population. |
(ii) Flooding
Soil must remain flooded for 12-22 months to control root-knot nematodes. Need plentiful water supply, land must be level, or there will be engineering problems. Flooding is also expensive - land usually out of production. In some cases, flooding can be an integral part of cultural practices. Rice seeded in water has trace white tip infection by Aphelenchoides besseyi, but if sown and flooded later (usual practice in many areas), 60% of the crop may be infected. Celery grown in saturated soil (left) has lower nematode damage.
Jacq and Fortuner showed in Senegal that sulfur-reducing bacteria produced hydrogen sulfide in rice under anaerobic conditions and in the presence of high levels of organic matter, resulting in reduction of Hirschmanniella spinicaudata. They tested this tactic between rice crops and enhanced the effect by incorporating organic material and adding sulfur. Unfortunately, sulfides are also toxic to rice. Same beneficial effects of flooding are reported for banana plantations. Note the practical problem of keeping field flooded during the dry season in Africa. |
A. Reduction of the
initial population.
C. Increase in carrying capacity.
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(iii) Cover crops
Nematode populations may decline due to several mechanisms:
Additional Information and ResourcesAustralasian Plant Pathology Society Factsheets on Plant-parasitic Nematodes (Prepared by Dr. Graham R. Stirling) (Use your Return Key or click the Index Tab to return to this Nemaplex page) |
A. Reduction of the
initial population.
C. Increase in carrying capacity. |
(iv) Crop rotation
Very effective, easy to select a candidate crop when host range is narrow and economic alternatives are plentiful, e.g., Globodera rostochiensis, Heterodera glycines, Ditylenchus dipsaci, etc. However, 2-8 years of rotation to non-hosts may be necessary depending on survival of nematode and how low the population must be reduced to avoid economic crop loss. Consult a host status list for nematodes known to be associated with a crop. Consider:
Additional Information and ResourcesAustralasian Plant Pathology Society Factsheets on Plant-parasitic Nematodes (Prepared by Dr. Graham R. Stirling) (Use your Return Key or click the Index Tab to return to this Nemaplex page)
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B. Reduction of the rate of population increase. | (v) Destruction of infested plants
Examples:
Additional Information and ResourcesAustralasian Plant Pathology Society Factsheets on Plant-parasitic Nematodes (Prepared by Dr. Graham R. Stirling) (Use your Return Key or click the Index Tab to return to this Nemaplex page)
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A. Reduction of the
initial population.
B. Reduction of the rate of population increase. |
(vi) Antagonistic crops,
crop residues, biofumigation
Examples:
Additional Information and ResourcesAustralasian Plant Pathology Society Factsheets on Plant-parasitic Nematodes (Prepared by Dr. Graham R. Stirling) (Use your Return Key or click the Index Tab to return to this Nemaplex page)
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A. Reduction of the initial population. | (vii) Clean planting stock
Obvious reduction of initial population by not introducing nematodes into a clean field. Consider:
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