Effect of Intercropping of Nematotoxic Plants on Root- Knot Nematode, Meloidogne incognita Infecting some Vegetable Plants in the Screenhouse

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) especially root-knot nematodes cause significant economic damage and considered as a limiting factor in some vegetables production all over the world. Due to the harmful effect of synthetic nematicides on human health, non-target organisms as well as on environment and agricultural ecosystem, we need to use alternative management practices that are effective, cheap, safe, economically acceptable, and environmentally friendly. Intercropping nematicidal plants may be represented as an alternative efficient practice. Our research was aimed to investigate the suppressive effect of Crotalaria juncea, Tagetes erecta, and Brassica juncea intercropping with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and pepper (Capsicum annum L.), on Meloidogyne incognita and their effect on the host plant growth. In the screenhouse, the experiment was conducted using 1000 IJs/pot, after 2 months the data were recorded. The highly effective intercropping plant was Crotalaria followed by Tagetes and Brassica in suppressing the nematode galls, egg masses, final population, and rate of reproduction significantly as follow: 153.7, 160.3, 570.0, 0.57 in tomato, and 205.7,158.3, 692.3, 0.69 in cucumber and 197.0, 189.7, 746.3, 0.75 in pepper, respectively. Moreover, plant growth parameters were enhanced in the three host plants and so, such intercropping system could be of a considerable merit in integrated pest management programs.