Management of Tomato Root-knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita by Plant Extracts and Essential Oils

The effect of plant extracts of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus chamadulonsis), garlic (Allium sativium), marigold (Tagetes erecta) and neem (Azadirachta indica) and essential oils were tested on the suppression of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita under greenhouse and field conditions. In vitro study, all tested treatments had nematicidal effect on nematode juveniles after 24 and 48 hours from exposures. The highest percentage of nematode mortality was achieved by application of neem extract (65.4%), essential oils (64.4%) and marigold extract (60.5%), followed by garlic and eucalyptus extracts (38.7-39.5%). Under greenhouse and field conditions, neem extract and essential oils treatments were more effective in reducing population numbers of the M. incognita in soil and root gall index compared to other treatments. In field experiments, the maximum protection of tomato plant against root-knot nematode was obtained by application of neem and essential oil treatments, 44.2 and 32.6%, respectively.