Meloidogyne genus contains the most prevalent and harmful worms formally known as root-knot nematode species. They attack a wide range of plants belonging to different plant families. The infective second stage juveniles (J-II) feed on the roots and as a result, the host plant roots become swollen/produce galls. The attack plant shows stunted growth and in extreme cases, the death of the plant occurs. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is required to tackle these harmful nematodes spp. The integrated tactics include cultural/agronomic practices, biological and chemical control. A sole management method is not enough to deal with the root-knot nematode. Therefore, a proper IPM package is required for the farmer to gain good health for the crops.

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Sitotroga cerealella is one of the major pests of cereals in the field and storage conditions throughout the world. The main objective was to study the life tables of S. cerealella on wheat, maize and barley and its implications on percent parasitism of Trichogramma chilonis. S. cerealella is reared under lab conditions as its eggs are utilized for rearing T. chilonis. Fresh eggs of S. cerealella were collected and after hatching the neonate larvae of S. cerealella were transferred onto each host plant species for obtaining first (F1) generation (G). Seventy eggs were used for each host and each egg was used as a replicate. Daily observations were made for recording the life-table parameters of the S. cerealella. The data showed that the developmental time of S. cerealella eggs and pupae was maximum (5.68 and 7.75 days) when reared on wheat, while the maximum larval duration (19.77 days) of S. cerealella was recorded on barley. The maximum fecundity (290.30 ± 22.47 eggs/female) was recorded on maize, while minimum fecundity per female was recorded on barley (159.30 eggs/ female). The S. cerealella reared on maize had significantly higher values of finite rate of increase (λ), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and net reproductive rate (Ro) (0.14 ± 0.04 day− 1, 1.16 ± 0.05 day− 1, and 136.85 ± 20.25 eggs/ female) respectively. The mean generation time (T) (35.18 ± 0.61 days) was higher on wheat. Likewise, the gross reproductive rate (GRR) and the age-stage specific reproductive values (vxj) of newly oviposited eggs of S. cerealella were recorded higher (136.85 ± 20.25; 1.160 offspring) on maize. The data regarding the efficacy of T. chilonis for different parameters were recorded higher on maize i.e., percent parasitism (89.00 ± 2.30%), percent adult emergence (81.60 ± 1.20%), adult longevity (3.80 ± 0.10 days) and total adult longevity (9.90 ± 0.20 days) as compared to wheat and barley. Our findings revealed that S. cerealella can be best reared on maize under laboratory conditions as it prefers this host as compared to wheat and barley. Therefore, assigning the most susceptible and favorite host (maize) would help us to improve T. chilonis mass production under laboratory conditions.

The current in-planta research work was carried out for the management of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cv. Peshawar.93 through naturally occurring nematicides during spring, 2018. Experiment included two plant-based essential oils (neem oil and castor oil), two plant extracts (garlic and ginger), and furadon (positive check). In contrast, check (negative) received only pure distal water (H2O). Treatments were laid out in CR (completely randomized) design having five replications. We inoculated 50 Juvenile's (J2s) and 200 eggs of the root-knot nematode to the sunflower root system. Application of plant extracts caused a significant decline in the number of galls, galling index, egg masses and J2 population on sunflower plant and promoted plant growth parameters under greenhouse conditions. Least number of egg masses (0.80) were found in plant treated with neem oil followed by furadon (0.83). Neem oil significantly reduced 1.46 J2s, followed by furadon (1.96). Plant Growth parameters such as shoot length (28.3 cm), root length (13.4 cm), root weight (3.15 gm), fresh (4.36 gm) and dry shoot weight (3.2 gm) and dry root weight (1.6 gm) were increased significantly by using neem oil. All the treatments significantly increased the plant growth parameters over check negative. The total chlorophyll content of the plants had reduced after the inoculation of the nematode as compared with the pre nematode inoculation. The present study suggests that neem oil has strong nematicidal effects and can be utilized effectively in an integrated pest management program against root-knot nematodes in sunflower.