Abstract
Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) in tomato is reported to cause yield reduction in a considerable amount world widely including the symptoms ranging from stunted growth, galled roots, chlorosis, wilting and eventually death of the host. Species of Meloidogyne labeled as a paramount pathogen for their devasting results in crop fields are pretty dominant in each temperate to tropical regions of the world. Due to the increasing destruction and losses by these nematodes the world food security is on stake questioning future food availability as well. From researchers to growers each one’s keen interest is the strategies and further plans to control the nematode infestation. While on their way of experiments and evaluation many solutions have crossed the path making biological one undoubtedly the smartest one. In tomato, the familiar plant integrities such as neem extracts, marigold, crotalaria, oat owning antagonistic nature was proven to nematode population greatly. Those small tiny creatures homing around the soil i.e. rhizobacteria, fungi were found to be the best weapon for combating averse to Meloidogyne spp. Chemical is also considered a good option unless it is limited to a line; since chemical nematicides are opposing the proposition of sustainable development in agriculture they are pushed behind making them limited for their necessity. The struggling debate on chemical vs biological solutions on the plant and crop conservation has been the topic of discussion since ages but one thing that we cannot overlook is the process of mechanism that is involved in biological ones is way more environmentally sound.
Highlights
Tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill ) universally treated as protective food, sustaining the food security is an annual plant grown all over the world ranking second after potato
From blocking peptide hormone to splitting the insect’s muscle, fat, gut cells, in other words, covering whole tissue azadirachtin play a role like a heart and a brain plays in human body so basically it is an important ingredient of neem oil that is undoubtedly responsible for suppressing the root-knot nematode infestation (Khalil, 2013)
Seed treatment and root dip treatment done in tomato seeds with plant botanicals; leaves of Calotropis gigantea, Tagetes patula, Azadirachta indica, and seeds of Citrullus lanatus and Areca catechu resulted in significant nematode population reduction and showed comparatively higher germination rate
Summary
Tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill ) universally treated as protective food, sustaining the food security is an annual plant grown all over the world ranking second after potato. The four species of Meloidogyne i.e. Meloidogyne incognita, Meloidogyne javanica, Meloidogyne arenaria, and Meloidogyne hapla are primarily responsible for the yield reduction in tomato. Studies reported a 26.5 to 73.3 % reduction in yield in tomato due to root-knot nematode causing about $125 billion in annual losses world widely. In Nepal, all four kinds of species of Meloidogyne nematode are reported from the districts such as Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kavre, Chitwan, Dhankuta, Palpa and Jhapa suggesting 30% yield reduction in tomato cultivation in polyhouse. Root-knot nematode is a polyphagous obligate endoparasite that completes most of its lifecycle inside a host plant It has a wide range of host nearly or more than 2,000 host plants including every genus from major field crops, fruits, ornamental plants to most of the vegetable crops such as tomato, turnip, pumpkin, cabbage, lettuce, onion, etc (Tiwari et al, 2009). In the cooler areas where the temperature range lies in between 0 degree Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius the dominant one is M. hapla while other M. javanica and M. arenaria are believed to exist in the warmer areas between the 350 S and 350 N latitude
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