Nematode Control by the Use of Antagonistic Plants
Summary
Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) cause significant economic damage to a wide range of crops. Although soil treatment with synthetic nematicides has given some protection and increased yields, many of them are being banned from the world market, because like other pesticides used in conventional agriculture, they might cause adverse damage to the agricultural ecosystem. Also, trends toward organic farming and sustainable agriculture continue to rise. Thus, the uses of alternative nematode management practices, which are safe and economically acceptable, are increasingly used. Among them, the use of antagonistic plants is a very attractive alternative. Some of antagonistic plants give the benefit of a green manure. Also, some nematocidal substances have been isolated from them and have drawn the attention of the pesticide industry. The use and the effect of the most investigated antagonistic plants like marigold (Tagetes spp.), neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), species from the genus Brassica, Crotolaria, Mucuna, etc. are presented in this review. It is necessary to continue the discovery of the new effective nematode antagonists and to develop techniques for their more efficient utilization. Furthermore, it is important to explore other benefits of antagonistic plants that would stimulate their cultivation by the farmers.
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