Amaranth Plant: Protects Climate, Health and Development by Controlling Root-Knot Disease

Abstract

Plant diseases, caused by pathogens, significantly reduce food production particularly in the developing world. Syntheticand chemical- pesticides are the most effective means of control, but they are expensive and not environment friendly. Population growth and rapid urbanization are putting considerable pressure on water available for irrigation. The “evils” of synthetic- and chemical- pesticides has been a major concern to environmentalists. To move forward, it will require new and more efficient solutions, technologies and products. Our best endeavor is to focus on the edible Amaranth which may have important economic implications for agriculture in future. In a well-protected garden of Kanchannagar DN Das High School (HS), Government of West Bengal, naturally-infested with Meloidogyne incognita, Kofoid and White, Chitwood, amaranth (Amaranthus viridis L.) cv. CO-1 was intercropped with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cv. Ankur-40 to determine the effects on nematode populations. The nematode population varied from 2573- 2639 per 200 g of soil. Amaranth was planted in between every two okra plants. All the plants were harvested at 70 days after plantation. Of the two plant species, amaranth received maximum infection in terms of root gall number, nematode population in root, root protein content and plant growth parameters. Though both the amaranth and okra plants were susceptible to root-knot nematodes. Amaranth was more susceptible than okra in terms of root-gall number nematode population in root and root protein content. Okra has also the lowest root-gall number and nematode population in root. While M. incognita population increased significantly both in soil as well as in roots in 70 days in the monoculture. But amaranth showed the highest intensity of nematode infection. These results suggest that root-knot disease easily and effectively controlled by the use of amaranth plants as “trap crop” for root-knot nematodes intercropped with okra plants in the naturally root-knot infested field. As intercrop amaranth could be harvested at frequent intervals to keep the nematode population to a minimum level. This way amaranth could serve as highly effective Climate Friendly Catch Crop protecting other crops from invading larvae. The farmers would be benefited double; by controlling root-knot nematodes in the naturally infected agricultural field, and by buying and selling the edible amaranth plant regularly from the intercropped agricultural field. Intercropped amaranth also improves the plant growth effectively which directly increase photosynthesis rate and significantly reduce CO2 in the environment and it would not only be easier way, easily available, cheap but also conserve our biodiversity which will contribute towards “Sustainable Climate, Health and Development by controlling root-knot diseases which is sometime devastating to all kinds of natural and artificial vegetation.”