Management of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in carrot

The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognito, remains to be one of the most important constraints in agricultural production worldwide. However, reports showed that root-knot nematode (RKN) population can be suppressed by addition of organic amendments. A greenhouse microplot experiment was conducted to determine if locally available organic amendments would reduce RKN population and improve the growth and yield of more susceptible and less susceptible carrot cultivars in comparison with the farmers' practice. Residues of broccoli, chicken manure and Trichoderma inoculant were incorporated into the soil artificially infested with root-knot nematodes. Untreated microplots were provided as controls. Three months after transplanting, nematodes were recovered from the soil using the modified Baermann-tray technique and from the roots using staining technique. The number of root-knot nematodes was counted under the stereoscopic microscope. In the more susceptible cultivar New Kuroda, significantly lowest number of second stage juveniles (J2's) was recovered from the soil incorporated with broccoli left-over materials and Trichoderma inoculant while chicken manure-amended soil had the most number of J2's. Galls and egg masses in secondary roots were highest in unamended-inoculated soil which was significantly different from broccoli-amended soil with solarisation and Trichoderma inoculant. No significant differences were obtained among the treatments in the less susceptible cultivar Chunhong. The yield was significantly highest in broccoli-amended soil with solarisation and Trichoderma inoculant but no significant difference existed between the two cultivars tested. In general, the treatments with broccoli residues and Trichoderma inoculant were able to decrease root-knot nematode population and significantly increase the yield relative to untreated soil, however, differences between the two cultivars were not significant.