Journal

Journal of Applied Horticulture, 13(2): 154-156, 2011 Appl

Associative effect of biofumigation and biocontrol agents in

management of root knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla in
Gerbera

B. Anita*, N. Selvaraj and R.M. Vijayakumar

Horticultural Research Station, Ooty, Nilgiris-643001, India. *E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
Protected cultivation is an emerging technology in Nilgiris for raising cut flower crops. Due to controlled environmental condition
and continuous growing of crops, the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla has emerged as a major problem in gerbera cultivation
causing enormous yield loss. The damage progressively increases if proper sanitation control measures are not followed during the
polyhouse cultivation. In the absence of Methyl Bromide, it is necessary to use other options. Biofumigation was evaluated to control
soil borne nematode parasites with the aim to develop bio-pesticides, which could be effective against root knot nematodes without
deteriorating soil environment. Two field trials were conducted to study the effect of combined use of biofumigants and bioagents
on the nematode population. Mustard crop was ploughed in situ before flowering and covered with a plastic mulch for one month in

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polyhouses. The biocontrol agents viz., Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride were tried either alone or in combination
with biofumigation. The stem length, flower yield and nematode population in soil were recorded. The study conducted at two different
locations indicated that biofumigation with mustard followed by soil application of P. fluorescens @1.25 kg/ha at the time of planting
significantly suppressed the population of M. hapla in soil by 67.5 to 67.8% and enhanced the flower yield of gerbera by 41 to 44%.
Key words: Gerbera, Meloidogyne hapla, biofumigation, mustard, biocontrol agents

Introduction found quite effective when used under plastic mulch in protected
cultivation. Hence, this study was aimed to study the associative
Over the last years, in the search for a more environmental effect of the biofumigation potential of Brassicas in combination
friendly pest and disease control, efforts have been directed with biocontrol agents against root knot nematodes in gerbera
towards a better understanding of the biological effects of which is being grown in polyhouses under protected condition
natural products and the transformation products thereof. Plant in Nilgiris.
extracts and crop residues have also been considered to have a
potential role in sustainable agriculture, controlling pests and Materials and methods
diseases, while minimizing dependence on artificial inputs such
as pesticides (Halbrendt and LaMondia, 2004 and Kratochvil Trials were coduced in polyhouses cultivating gerberas at two
et al., 2004). Biofumigation is the agronomic practice of using different locations in Nilgiris with a history of severe infestations
volatile chemicals (allelochemicals), released from decomposing by root knot nematodes. Mustard (Brassica juncea) seeds were
Brassica tissues, to suppress soil-borne pests and pathogens. broadcasted at the rate of 10g/m2 and just before flowering the
The most common volatiles produced during the breakdown plants were chopped and incorporated into soil at the rate of 5
of Brassicas are isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITCs are related to the kg fresh biomass m-2. After incorporation the plot was covered
active ingredient in the commercial fumigant metham sodium with linear low density polyethylene sheets and left as such for
and dazomet and are highly toxic to pests and pathogens (Donkin one month. At the time of planting the polyethylene sheet was
et al., 1995 and Jing and Halbrendt, 1994). They are released removed and the soil was thoroughly mixed. The other treatments
following tissue damage, when myrosinase enzymes, at neutral were applied as soil application just before planting. Thirty day-
pH, hydrolyse (in presence of water) glucosinolates (GCs). GCs old side suckers of gerbera were planted at a spacing of 30 × 20
are sulfur-containing chemicals (thioglucosides) that are produced cm, accommodating 16 plants/ m2. Foliar sprays of pesticides
as secondary metabolites by Brassicas and most researchers were made according to recommended schedules in all the beds
believe their evolutionary role is to provide resistance against to control mites, thrips, leaf miner and foliar diseases. Talc based
pests and pathogens. Isothiocyanates have often been regarded formulations of local strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens and
as the most toxic among the various types of glucosinolate Trichoderma viride were used in this study as follows
derived products, and they have been found to have nematicidal, T1- Biofumigation with mustard
fungicidal, insecticidal and herbicidal properties. The biocidal T2- P. fluorescens (SA)- 2.5 kg/ha
activity of various isothiocyanates (ITCs) released by Brassica T3- T. viride (SA)-2.5 kg/ha
tissues is well-known (Brown and Morra,1996) and the potential T4- Biofumigation+ P. fluorescens (SA)- 1.25 kg/ha
of Brassicas to suppress a range of soil-borne pests and diseases is T5- Biofumigation+ T. viride (SA)-1.25 kg/ha
supported by considerable empirical field evidence (Matthiessen T6- P. fluorescens + T. viride (SA)-2.5 kg/ha
and Kirkegaard, 2006). Biofumigation with brassicaes has been T7- Cartap hydrochloride-10 kg/ac
 Biofumigation and biocontrol agents in management of root knot nematode 155

T8- Carbofuran 3G-12 kg/ac yield in plots biofumigated with mustard followed by application
T9- Untreated control of P. fluorescens @ 1.25 kg/ha.The root knot nematode population
The overall mean initial population level of M. hapla before reduced by 67.5 to 67.8% and the root gall index was 2 in these
treating the beds was estimated (five random soil samples/bed). plots compared to 5 in untreated plots. Cartaphydrochloride was
Soil samples (100 g each) from the beds designated for each also effective against root knot nematodes. When applied at the
treatment and the control were processed and active nematode rate of 10 kg/ac the population of nematodes in soil was reduced
juveniles were extracted by combining Cobb’s sieving and by 54.03% three months after planting.
decanting method with the Baermann technique. Juveniles of root-
Biofumigation is a sustainable strategy to manage soil-borne
knot nematodes per mL of aqueous suspension were counted with
pathogens, nematodes, insects, and weeds. Brassicaceous cover
a microscope. The number of the nematodes per 100 g soil from
each replicate was pooled and the mean value for each treatment crops have several characteristics that make them particularly
was calculated. The stem length and flower yield/plant/month suitable for plant-parasitic nematode control. Glucosinolate-
were measured in the gerbera crop in treated and untreated beds. containing brassicaceous cover crops have long been studied
Root-gall index (on a 1-5 scale, according to Heald et al., 1989) in the laboratory for nematode suppression (Chitwood, 2002).
and nematode population levels in root (Byrd et al., 1983) and soil Upon enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates in brassicaceous
(Trudgill et al., 1972) were recorded in each bed. The experiment tissue, toxic byproducts are released and have been shown to
was conducted in a randomized block design and the treatments suppress weed seed germination (Brown and Morra, 1996;
were replicated thrice. Data collected in the two polyhouses Vaughn and Boydston, 1997; Weil and Kremen, 2007), fungal
were subjected to analysis of variance and significance assessed pathogens (Smolinska et al., 2003) and nematodes (Akhtar and
by means of a modified Duncan’s multiple range test (Steel and Mahmood, 1994; Mojtahedi et al., 1991; Zasada and Ferris, 2003,
Torrie, 1980). 2004). Gardiner et al. (1999) found higher concentrations of
glucosinolate-degradation products from roots than shoot, despite

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Results and discussion accounting for only 25% of the plant biomass. They proposed that
the prolonged release of hydrolysis products from the roots could
The root-knot nematode, M.hapla is a serious limiting factor for contribute to the potential effectiveness of rapeseed (Brassica
the production of gerbera in commercial polyhouses in Nilgiris napus cv., Humus and Dwarf Essex) as a soil fumigant. A lot
district. Trials were coduced in polyhouses cultivating gerberas of investigations have been made about root-knot nematodes
at two different locations in Nilgiris with a history of severe Meloidogyne spp and show that the use of different plant materials
infestations by root knot nematode, M.hapla. As an ecofriendly can be efficient for controlling these pests (Gardner and Caswell-
approach biofumigation was evaluated along with biocontrol agents Chen,1994). Fresh tissues (2.5 % w/w) of B. napus, B. rapa, B.
in polyhouses for the management of root knot nematodes. At both juncea, B. Carinata, Raphanus sativus and Crambe abyssinica
the locations, significant reduction in nematode population in soil incorporated in soil infested with M. Incognita significantly
was observed in mustard biofumigated plots. In the polyhouse at
suppressed nematode multiplication on the roots, compared to
Kanneri Mandanai village the population in biofumigated plots
the untreated control (Djian-Caporilano et al., 2005).
was reduced by 58.94 to 64.67% compared to untreated control
plots (Table 1). Similar results were also obtained in the polyhouse In addition to soil fumigation, implementation of an integrated
located in Kappathorai village where there was 49.02 to 52.14% approach not only benefits the flower production but also
reduction in root knot nematode population in the biofumigated provide safety to the environment. Rhizosphere bacteria, mainly
plots (Table 2). However there was a gradual increase in the fluorescent pseudomonads have been reported to be antagonistic
population of root knot nematodes after a period of three months. to nematodes. In the present study, introduction of naturally
Application of biocontrol agents viz., P. fluorescens and T. viride occurring biocontrol agent. P. fluorescens in the biofumigated
in the biofumigated plots had an additive and prolonged effect in plots significantly reduced nematode population and enhanced
maintaining the nematode population at low levels. Among the two gerbera flower production. According to Nagesh and Parvatha
bioagents tested P. fluorescens was found more effective than T. Reddy (2005) protection of plants in polyhouses against nematode
viride at both the locations. There was 41 to 44% increase in flower infection needs to begin before planting, with a soil sterilant such

Table 1. Management of root knot disease in Gerbera by biofumigation and biocontrol agents (Kanneri Mandanai)
Treatments Initial soil Nematode Stem Flower Soil nematode Root
nematode population/ length yield/ population/ gall
population/ 100g (after (cm) plant/ 100g index
100g biofumigation) month (90 DAP)
Biofumigation with mustard 353.66 136.50 21.68 6.0 308.33 4
P. fluorescens (SA)- 2.5 kg/ha 360.02 389.27 23.36 7.6 282.66 3
T. viride (SA)-2.5 kg/ha 349.26 365.24 22.73 5.3 327.33 4
Biofumigation + P. fluorescens (SA)- 1.25 kg/ha 354.00 149.08 28.51 8.3 138.66 2
Biofumigation + T. viride (SA)-1.25 kg/ha 362.31 158.66 23.72 6.0 275.33 3
P. fluorescens + T. viride (SA)-2.5 kg/ha 345.24 396.84 27.75 6.6 258.00 3
Cartap hydro chloride-10 kg/ac 363.47 410.35 26.90 7.0 196.00 2
Carbofuran-12 kg/ac 360.85 395.80 26.63 7.3 164.00 2
Untreated control 356.60 386.43 17.50 4.3 426.33 5
CD (P=0.05) NS 12.3 1.12 0.94 11.51 -
156 Biofumigation and biocontrol agents in management of root knot nematode

Table 2. Management of root knot disease in Gerbera by biofumigation and biocontrol agents (Kapathorai)
Treatments Initial soil Nematode Stem Flower Soil nematode Root
nematode population/ length yield/ population/ gall
population/ 100g (after (cm) plant/ 100g index
100g biofumigation) month (90 DAP)
Biofumigation with mustard 364.40 196.50 29.42 7.00 320.35 4
P. fluorescens (SA)- 2.5 kg/ha 359.04 396.85 30.99 7.33 258.21 3
T. viride (SA)-2.5 kg/ha 366.94 410.31 29.13 6.00 324.37 3
Biofumigation + P. fluorescens (SA)- 1.25 kg/ha 361.20 209.34 33.77 8.33 125.98 2
Biofumigation + T. viride (SA)-1.25 kg/ha 358.40 208.85 30.53 5.66 198.80 3
P. fluorescens + T. viride (SA)-2.5 kg/ha 351.60 410.52 31.63 7.66 245.60 3
Cartap hydro chloride-10 kg/ac 344.50 386.00 28.30 6.33 228.65 3
Carbofuran-12 kg/ac 356.50 402.79 30.10 7.00 147.84 2
Untreated control 365.39 410.62 24.80 4.66 390.65 5
CD (P=0.05) NS 10.5 1.30 1.02 12.62 -

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Received: May, 2011; Revised: September, 2011; Accepted: October, 2011