Glasshouse studies on the effects of time, temperature and amendment of soil with broccoli plant residues on the infestation of melon plants by Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of heating, over a range of temperatures and for increasing periods of time, and of adding finely chopped broccoli leaves to soil infested by Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica on nematode infestation of melon, were studied in glasshouse experiments. There was a significant interaction between the effects of soil temperature, the period for which this temperature was maintained and broccoli amendment. At the lowest temperature tested (20°C), adding broccoli to the soil had very little effect on nematode infestation or galling of melon. Increasing the temperature of the broccoli-amended soils to 25, 30 or 35°C dramatically reduced infestation and galling compared to that in non-amended soils. Within this range, the effect of broccoli-amendment occurred sooner at higher temperatures. Heating the soil to 40°C for 10 days generally eliminated nematode infestation and root-galling, irrespective of whether broccoli had been added. Fewer egg masses were obtained from melon roots grown in broccoli-amended soils than from those grown in non-amended soils, even when roots exhibited similar degrees of galling. The results suggest that the temperature and time treatments using soil solarisation to control M. incognita or M. javanica could be reduced in soils amended with broccoli residues.