Recent Advances in the Development of Environmentally Benign Treatments to Control Root-Knot Nematodes

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., are sedentary endoparasites that negatively affect almost every crop in the world. Current management practices are not enough to completely control RKN. Application of certain chemicals is also being further limited in recent years. It is therefore crucial to develop additional control strategies through the application of environmentally benign methods. There has been much research performed around the world on the topic, leading to useful outcomes and interesting findings capable of improving farmers’ income. It is important to have dependable resources gathering the data produced to facilitate future research. This review discusses recent findings on the application of environmentally benign treatments to control RKN between 2015 and April 2020. A variety of biological control strategies, natural compounds, soil amendments and other emerging strategies have been included, among which, many showed promising results in RKN control in vitro and/or in vivo . Development of these methods continues to be an area of active research, and new information on their efficacy will continuously become available. We have discussed some of the control mechanisms involved and suggestions were given on maximizing the outcome of the future efforts.

Marine Organisms for the Sustainable Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes

“…EC 1107/2009; 459/2010 and 293/2013), which focus on animal and human health as well as the environment. The total ban or restricted use of most nematicides has raised an urgent need for safe and effective control options [ 8 ], thus increasing research on sustainable alternatives such as biocontrol agents, green manures and organic amendments [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Compounds deriving from plants, microorganisms and marine organisms could ensure a virtuous combination of nematicidal efficacy and environmental safety, as their natural origin ensures their low persistence both in soil and crops and, therefore, a low impact on the environment and human and animal health [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Fungi–Nematode Interactions: Diversity, Ecology, and Biocontrol Prospects in Agriculture

“…represent the most severe challenges to crop production. In a summary of the biocontrol methods evaluated between 2015 and April 2020, 10 microfungi and 3 mushroom species were tested for their effectiveness in controlling RKNs [ 160 ]. However, most studies were conducted in laboratories and greenhouse settings and their efficacies in the field are not known.…”

Meloidogyne enterolobii, a Major Threat to Tomato Production: Current Status and Future Prospects for Its Management

“…Biological control or biopesticide is defined as an application of live microbes (bacteria and fungi) and their gene products, essential oils, plant extracts, individual and mixed acids such as organic and amino acids, natural bioactive substances, and industrial wastes ( Seid et al, 2015 ; Forghani and Hajihassani, 2020 ). Some bacterial biocontrol agents that are commercially available include Bacillus firmus (Bio-Nem-WP/BioSafe, Agrogreen, Ashdod, Israel), B. firmus GB-126 (VOTIVO TM , Bayer CropScience, Raleigh, NC, United States), B. amyloliquefaciens strain IN937a, B. subtilis strain GB03 (BioYield, Gustafson LLC, Plano, TX, United States), Bacillus spp.…”

“…These biopesticides have shown a bionematicide activity against eggs, juveniles, and adults and played an important role to manage Meloidogyne spp. ( Stirling, 2014 ; Seid et al, 2015 ; Forghani and Hajihassani, 2020 ). The most prominent beneficial fungi for managing Meloidogyne spp.…”

“…Recently, the effects of two egg-parasitic fungi, Pochonia chlamydosporia and Purpureocillium lilacinum against M. enterolobii were assessed in vitro . Two strains CG1006 and CG1044 of P. chlamydosporia and CG1042 and CG1101 of P. lilacinum were found to be the most effective and could be potential biocontrol candidates to manage M. enterolobii ( Forghani and Hajihassani, 2020 ). Thus, future research on optimizing growth conditions, efficacy and broad-spectrum action, safety, and stability of beneficial endophytic bacteria or PGPR for commercialization and utilization in IDM need to be researched for ability to control M. enterolobii .…”