Efficacy of five nematicides against root‐knot nematode when applied via single and double drip tapes in a Florida sandy soil

Abstract

BackgroundThe efficacy of drip‐applied nematicides depends on adequate product distribution, which can be difficult in sandy soils. Three new non‐fumigant nematicides (fluazaindolizine, fluensulfone, fluopyram), together with two old nematicides, oxamyl and metam potassium, were evaluated when applied via single and double drip tapes to control root‐knot nematode in cucumber and squash in Florida between February 2020 and December 2022.ResultsNematicide applications via double drip tapes resulted in lower root gall infection (and tend to have higher yield) as compared to a single tape for fluopyram, but no difference was noted between single and double tapes for oxamyl and fluazaindolizine. Fluensulfone response was somewhere in between and metam potassium had higher squash yield when applied with double tapes. Root‐knot infection was higher in cucumber than in squash, and metam potassium had the highest yields and lowest nematode infection compared to other nematicide treatments.ConclusionThe benefit of double versus single drip tapes depended on the type of nematicide that was applied and was evident for nematicides that have poor water solubility like fluopyram. Some benefit was noted for metam potassium, but no or limited benefit was noted for oxamyl, fluazaindolizine and fluensulfone. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytochemical Volatiles as Potential Bionematicides with Safer Ecotoxicological Properties

“…Fluazaindolizine, another next-generation pesticide, shows higher environmental safety compared to the remaining pesticides since its reported toxicity thresholds to non-target aquatic model organisms are higher; however, its nematicidal activity is reported to be lower. For example, in a field test where fluazaindolizine, fluensulfone, fluopyram, oxamyl, and metam potassium were compared for the control of root-knot nematodes in cucumber and squash, only metam seemed to lower nematode infection and increase yield, and the water solubility of these compounds most probably exerted some influence [ 65 ]. Although fluazaindolizine seems to have some advantages over other pesticides, the techniques used for quantifying its degradation metabolites are only now being optimised, and information on their toxicological impacts is still being analysed.…”