Efficacy of fresh fruit from Cucumis myriocarpus as Nemarioc-AL phytonematicide on suppression of root-knot nematodes in tomato plant production

ABSTRACT

Experimental System: Fermented dried fruit of wild cucumber (Cucumis myriocarpus Naude.) Had been successfully used as Nemarioc-AL phytonematicide in managing plant-parasitic nematodes in various cropping systems. However, the specialised oven-drying equipment are inaccessible to most resource-poor smallholder farmers in marginalised communities. Procedures: The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of fermented crudes extracts of C. myriocarpus fruit when used in fresh form as Nemarioc-AL phytonematicide on management of population densities of root-knot (Meloidogyne species) nematodes and growth of tomato (Solanum lycorpersicum L.) plants. Seedlings at five leaf-stage were transplanted into pots containing 2700 ml steam-pasteurised river sand and Hygromix at 3:1 (v/v) ratio. Each seedling was inoculated with approximately 3000 eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) at transplanting. The phytonematicide was applied at 0%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 16%, 32% and 64%, arranged in a randomised complete block design, with five replications and validated in time. Results: At 56 days after treatment, nematode variables and phytonematicide concentrations exhibited negative quadratic relations, with coeffients of determination (COD) ranging from 93% to 97%. Similarly, plant variables and phytonematicide concentrations exhibited positive quadratic relations, with COD from 96% to 98%. Conclusions: In conclusion, when prepared from fresh fruit of C. myriocarpus, Nemarioc-AL phytonematicide was suitable for use in managing nematode population densities of Meloidogyne species in tomato production.

KEYWORDS:

• Cucurbitacin A
• effective microorganisms
• fermented crude extracts
• methyl bromide
• nematicide

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

P. E. Tseke and P. W. Mashela are research assistant and senior professor of nematology, respectively, at the Green Biotechnologies Research Centre of Excellence, University of Limpopo.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by grants from the Land Bank Chair of Agriculture – University of Limpopo, the National Research Foundation of South Africa, the Agricultural Research Council-Universities Collaboration Centre and the Flemish Interuniversity Council of Belgium.