Nematodes in Agriculture: Challenges and Prevention Strategies

• %बी 03 2023, द्वारा Agriplex India
• 7 मिनट पढ़ने का समय

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Nematodes, commonly known as roundworms, are microscopic worms that inhabit various soil types and have a significant impact on agriculture. While some nematodes are beneficial to soil health, others can be detrimental to crop production, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers. In this blog, we will explore the challenges posed by nematodes in agriculture and discuss effective prevention strategies to mitigate their harmful effects.

Understanding Nematodes:

Nematodes belong to the phylum Nematoda and are found in almost every ecosystem, including agricultural soils. These worms have a cylindrical body and can range in size from less than 1 mm to several centimeters. Nematodes feed on plant roots, stems, and leaves, causing a variety of symptoms such as stunting, wilting, and yellowing of crops. They can also transmit plant viruses, further exacerbating crop damage.

Types of Agricultural Nematodes:

Several types of nematodes affect crops, including: 

• Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.): These are among the most economically damaging nematodes. They invade plant roots, forming characteristic "knots" or galls, which disrupt nutrient uptake and water absorption, leading to reduced plant vigor.
• Cyst Nematodes (Heterodera and Globodera spp.): These nematodes form protective cysts around themselves within the soil. They infect plant roots, causing stunted growth and reduced yields. Cyst nematodes can survive in soil for many years, making them particularly challenging to control.
• Reniform Nematodes (Rotylenchulus reniformis): These nematodes are prevalent in warm climates and attack a wide range of crops. They cause root lesions, leading to nutrient deficiencies and yield losses.
• Lesion Nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.): Lesion nematodes damage plant roots by creating feeding sites and causing necrotic lesions. They are responsible for reduced root systems and increased vulnerability to other soil-borne diseases.

Life Cycle of Nematodes:

Understanding the life cycle of nematodes is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies. While nematode life cycles can vary depending on the species, they generally consist of the following stages:

1. Egg Stage: Nematodes begin their life cycle as eggs. These eggs are laid in the soil, often near or attached to plant roots or in organic matter. 

1. Juvenile Stage: After hatching from the eggs, nematodes enter the juvenile stage. Juvenile nematodes go through several molts as they grow and develop into adults.
2. Adult Stage: Once the juveniles reach maturity, they become adult nematodes. Adult nematodes reproduce by laying eggs, completing the life cycle.

 

The life cycle duration varies depending on environmental conditions, nematode species, and host availability. Some nematodes can complete their life cycle within a few weeks, while others may take several months.

Symptoms of Damage Caused by Nematodes:

Nematodes can cause various symptoms of damage in plants, which may vary depending on the nematode species and the affected crop. Here are some common symptoms associated with nematode infestations:

1. Stunting: Nematode feeding on plant roots can lead to stunted growth and reduced plant height.
2. Wilting and Yellowing: Nematodes disrupt the water and nutrient uptake in plants, resulting in wilting of leaves and yellowing (chlorosis) of foliage.
3. Root Galls and Lesions: Root-knot nematodes induce the formation of swollen, knotted areas (galls) on plant roots. Cyst nematodes form small, white-to-brown cysts on the roots. Lesion nematodes create necrotic lesions on roots, further weakening the plant.
4. Root Damage: Nematode feeding can cause extensive damage to plant roots, leading to reduced root mass, impaired nutrient absorption, and increased susceptibility to other soil-borne pathogens.
5. Reduced Yield: The combined effects of stunted growth, nutrient deficiencies, and root damage ultimately result in reduced crop yields.
6. Above-Ground Symptoms: In addition to root damage, nematode-infested plants may exhibit above-ground symptoms such as leaf curling, leaf discoloration, and a general decline in plant vigor.

 

Note - It's important to note that symptoms caused by nematodes can resemble those caused by other factors, such as nutrient deficiencies, diseases, or environmental stress. Proper diagnosis and identification of nematodes through laboratory testing are crucial to confirming nematode infestations and implementing appropriate management strategies

Challenges Posed by Nematodes in Agriculture:

Nematodes present various challenges in agricultural systems:

1. Yield Losses: Nematode feeding can reduce crop yields significantly, leading to financial losses for farmers and food supply challenges.
2. Spread of Plant Diseases: Nematodes can transmit viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens to plants, exacerbating the damage caused by these diseases.
3. Reduced Nutrient Uptake: Nematode feeding can interfere with nutrient uptake by plants, resulting in nutrient deficiencies and imbalances that affect plant growth and development.
4. Pesticide Resistance: Excessive use of chemical nematicides has led to the development of nematode populations resistant to these chemicals, limiting control options.

Prevention Strategies for Nematode Management:

1. Crop Rotation: Implementing a diverse crop rotation system can help break the nematode life cycle. Certain nematodes are host-specific, meaning they depend on specific crops for reproduction and survival. Rotating crops with non-host plants disrupts nematode populations, reducing their impact.
2. Soil Solarization: This technique involves covering moist soil with clear plastic sheets to trap solar heat. The high temperatures generated kill nematodes and other soil pests. Soil solarization is effective against many nematode species but works best in regions with high solar radiation.
3. Resistant Crop Varieties: Planting nematode-resistant crop varieties is an effective preventive measure. Plant breeders have developed crop varieties with inherent resistance to specific nematode species. Using these varieties can minimize nematode damage.
4. Sanitation Practices: Proper sanitation, such as removing crop residues and cleaning tools and equipment, helps reduce nematode carryover from one season to another.
5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Adopting an IPM approach that combines multiple management strategies, including cultural, biological, and chemical methods, can provide a holistic and sustainable solution to nematode control.
6. Biological Control: Some beneficial organisms, such as certain fungi and bacteria, can suppress nematode populations. The application of these organisms as biocontrol agents can help manage nematode populations naturally.

Best  Biol Nematicides to control Nematodes available at Agriplex

1. Multiplex Safe Root: Multiplex Safe Root Contains Trichoderma harzianum. It Controls most of the soil-borne nematodes (PPN) and works as Bio Nematicide. It Helps in healthy root formation which will absorb plant nutrients & water as and when required by the plant. This will lead to healthy plant growth which in turn will result in increased yield. 

2. Multiplex Niyanthran: Multiplex Niyanthran is a bio nematicide that contains Paecilomyces lilacinus. Protects the crop from root-knot Nematode damage. Niyanthran Protects crops from disease complexes caused by nematodes and some pathogenic fungi/ bacteria. 

3. T Stanes Bio-Nematon – Bio Nematon is based on a beneficial entomophagous fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus. It controls root-knot nematodes, burrowing nematodes, cyst nematodes, lesion nematodes, etc., that affect a wide range of crops. It controls the target nematode pests effectively.

Chemical Control: the spread of nematodes can be also controlled by using chemical Nematicides.

• Bayer Velum Prime: It contains an active ingredient fluopyrum which offers long-lasting protection against Root-Knot nematodes and selectively inhibits Complex II of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of nematodes. Following the application of Velum prime, nematodes cannot generate energy to sustain hence initially take on the shape of a needle, become immobile, and eventually die.

Conclusion:

Nematodes pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity worldwide. Understanding the different types of nematodes and implementing effective prevention strategies is crucial for minimizing their impact on crops. By employing techniques such as crop rotation, soil solarization, biological control, and resistant crop varieties, farmers can mitigate nematode damage and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Continued research and innovation in nematode management are essential to ensure food security and sustainable agriculture in the face of these microscopic yet formidable pests.

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