Biological control of plant parasitic nematodes

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes are major pests of large number of agricultural crops, including medicinal and aromatic plants, causing heavy yield losses and considerably reducing farm incomes of the growers. It is therefore important to recognize the nematode infestation problems at an early stage and initiate appropriate eco-friendly control measures. The decreasing scope of major weapon of nematode control, i.e. chemical nematicides because of non-availability of potent chemical nematicides and increased awareness of consumers about ill effects of chemicals, biological nematode management tactics are becoming increasingly popular. The biological control of plant parasitic nematodes is considered as one of the safest, eco-friendly and effective management tactic to keep nematode population under control. In this method different types of organic and biological inputs like various manures/compost, botanicals and microbes like fungi, bacteria, nematodes etc. are presently used at commercial scale to keep the plant parasitic nematode population below the damaging level for enhancing the crop yield.