Integrated management of vegetable pests in the open field-with emphasis on nematodes

Abstract EN

The problems of combating pests in the open field are considered in the context of decreased availability and lor desirability of the synthetic pesticides and of the difficulties of developing rotations incorporating resistant varieties and biological control agents in situations where pest outbreaks may be unpredictable or erratic.

Greater detail will be presented to highlight the potential for integrating control methods for the root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), pests which can be predicted as likely to cause serious losses to vegetable crops particularly on land that is in regular or continuous cultivation.

Results from experiments inwhich the biological control agents Pasteuria penetrans and Verticillium chlamydosporium have been used in field conditions will be presented to show that root galling, egg masses and numbers of infective juvenile nematodes in soil can be reduced over a sequence of crop cycles.

Yield improvements have also been shown in experimental plots.

It can be concluded that environmentally acceptable techniques for root-knot nematode control are possible although the widespread adoption of such measures will require some field development to take account of variable soil and climatic effects and of the willingness of growers to risk strategies that may take time for the beneficial microrganisms to become established.