Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) as an effective soil fumigant against nematodes in China.

Dongdong Yan,Aocheng Cao,Meixia Guo,Ouyang Canbin,Yuan Li,Qiuxia Wang,Xiaoqin Guo,Jinzhuang Xue

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224456

Dongdong Yan, Aocheng Cao + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224456

Copy DOI

Abstract

Root-knot nematode is an important soil pest in horticulture crops and constrains the protected cultivation development after methyl bromide (MB) was phased out in China. Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) exhibits excellent efficacy against nematodes. Laboratory experiments and field trials were set up to clarify DMDS dose, efficacy, and yield. A dose-response experiment using three methods showed that DMDS presented high efficacy against the nematode Meloidogyne incongnita. The LC50 values of direct fumigation activity in the dessicator method were 0.086 and 0.070 mg L-1 for DMDS and 1,3-D, 29.865 and 18.851 mg L-1 for DMDS and 1,3-D of direct contact activity in the small tube method, 6.438 and 3.061 mg L-1 for DMDS and 1,3-D of soil fumigation activity in the soil fumigation method, respectively. The field trials indicated that DMDS showed an excellent efficacy of 80%−94% on root-knot nematode applied at 10−100 g m−2 on tomato in Tongzhou, Beijing. The crop yields showed no significant difference after applying 10–80 g m-2 DMDS. Results indicate that DMDS applied at 10 g m-2 for controlling root-knot nematode in Beijing is cost effective. In conclusion, DMDS is an excellent soil fumigant that can be used for controlling root-knot nematode and can be an potential novel alternative to MB in China.

Highlights

Protected cultivation of high-value crops are important techniques used to increase farmers’ income and modernize traditional agriculture
The field experiments showed that Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) at 60, 80, and 100 g m−2 effectively controlled cucumber nematodes in 2011 to 2012 (Table 5)
No significant difference in nematode control and yield was observed among the treatments of DMDS, 1,3-D, and methyl bromide (MB)

Summary

Introduction

Protected cultivation of high-value crops are important techniques used to increase farmers’ income and modernize traditional agriculture. These techniques have become increasingly important in China’s economy and are expected to continue booming. The area for vegetable cultivation in China is 24,549,160 ha in 2015 [1]. The occurrence of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) is becoming more severe, causing farmers to suffer huge losses. Crop yield and quality are usually decreased significantly after 3–5 years of cultivation without rotation. The yield losses are normally 20% to 40%, though they may reach more than 60% or total yield losses [2]

Methods

Results

Conclusion