Control of root-knot nematodes by composted agro-industrial wastes in potting mixtures

Abstract

The use of composted dry cork, dry-grape marc (fruit residue after pressing) and a 1:1 mixture of dry-olive marc+dry-rice husk as an amendment to potting mixtures was assessed for the management of Meloidogyne species. Amending the potting mixture with composted dry cork at rates of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% v/v, reduced the root galling and final populations of Meloidogyne incognita race 1 and M. javanica in tomato, and final nematode population in olive plants, compared with the control. In tomato, increasing the rate of that amendment exponentially reduced the root galling caused by Meloidogyne incognita race 1 (40.8%) and the final nematode population (81.9%). Similarly, increasing rates of the amendment exponentially reduced the root galling of tomato caused by M. javanica (51.3%) and the final population (82.6%). Infection of olive roots by M. incognita race 1 did not cause visible galling; however, amendment with dry cork reduced the final nematode population by 87.9%. Amending the potting mixture with dry-grape marc also reduced the root galling and final populations of M. incognita race 1 and M. javanica in tomato, though the reductions in root galling (24.4% and 25.6%, respectively) and final nematode populations (34.2% and 34.7%, respectively) were not enough for effective nematode management. Root galling and final nematode population were not reduced in potting mixture amended with the 1:1 mixture of composted dry-olive marc and dry-rice husk.