Abstract
Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, is the major limiting factor in tomato production in many regions of the world, including Ethiopia. Hence, there is a need for development of root-knot nematode management methods that are cheap and environmentally friendly. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with an objective to evaluate the integrated effect of botanicals and intercropping against M. incognita on tomato. The experiment was laid out in a 2×3×3 factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. About 30 ml of lantana leaf extract (at 5% v/v concentration) was applied one week before transplanting of convert to days tomato cv Moneymaker seedlings into 20 cm diameter size pot containing 2 kg sterilized soil. Seeds of mustard and garlic were sown directly into the plastic pots on either side of the tomato seedlings. M. incognita was inoculated at the rate of 1000 and 2000 second-stage juveniles (J2) per pot one week after transplanting. A control without any nematode treatment was also maintained. The results revealed that combination of lantana leaf extract and tomato-mustard intercropping at both nematode inoculum levels proved to be the most effective treatment that reduced the soil and root population of the nematode. Application of lantana leaf extract alone and in combination at both inoculation levels showed superiority on tomato growth characteristics. Hence, this ecofriendly approach could be incorporated into integrated nematode management in tomato. However, further research is needed to evaluate their efficacies under field conditions. Key words: Egg-mass, gall, garlic, juvenile, Lantana camara, mustard, management.  
Highlights
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide, owing to its high nutritive value and diversified use
LSD (5%) = least significant difference; CV (%) = coefficient of variation, J2 = second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita, T = treated with leaves extract of lantana at 5% concentration, UT = untreated treatment with lantana leaves extract, pure tomato cropping (PT) = pure tomato plant cropping, tomato with garlic (TG) = tomato plant intercropped with garlic, tomato with mustard (TM) = tomato plant intercropped with mustard
LSD (5%) = Least significant difference; CV (%) = Coefficient of variation, J2 = Second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita, T = treated with leaf extract of lantana at 5% concentration, UT = untreated treatment with lantana leaf extract, PT = pure tomato plant cropping, TG = tomato plant intercropped with garlic, TM = tomato plant intercropped with mustard
Summary
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide, owing to its high nutritive value and diversified use. Ripped tomato fruit has high nutritive value and it is a good source of vitamins and minerals (USDA, 2005). An anti-oxidant that may contribute to protection against carcinogenic substances and which is known to prevent prostate cancer and improves the skin’s ability to guard against harmful ultraviolet radiation (Rao and Rao, 2007). As it is a relatively short duration crop and gives a high yield, it is economically attractive. In Ethiopia, tomato is an important cash crop to farmers and a widely cultivated vegetable crop both under irrigation and rain fed throughout the year (Lemma, 2002). Jiregna et al (2012) reported as tomato ranking 8th in annual national production
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