Nahum Marbán-Mendoza

Effects of three microbial broth cultures and an organic amendment on growth and populations of free living and plant-parasitic nematodes on banana

The effect of 24 treatment combinations of cultures of Streptomyces costaricanus sp. nov. (ATCC55274), Bacillus thuringiensis (ATCC55273) and a strain of Paecilomyces marquandii, nematicide (cadusaphos), and/or wheat mash on growth and response of potted banana plants (Musa AAA) and populations of Radopholus similis, Helicotylenchus multicinctus and free living nematodes were studied in Río Frío, Costa Rica. The best plant responses (height, leaf numbers, healthy root weight), lowest numbers of plant parasitic nematodes and highest numbers of free living nematodes were observed for treatments containing wheat as a component. Two treatments, viz. wheat + Streptomyces costaricanus (200-ml culture) and wheat + P. marquandii (200-ml culture), gave the overall best results. Numbers of free living nematodes increased up to 1500-fold only for treatments containing wheat. Significant positive correlations existed between numbers of free living nematodes and shoot weight, healthy root biomass, plant height, and leaf numbers. Non-wheat treatments, including nematicide only, gave the poorest responses in general. Observations of nematodes sampled 50 days following planting in wheat-containing treatments showed most of the free-living nematodes (≈ 90%) to be infected by nematophagous fungi (species not recorded). The results show that an organic amendment to soil, with or without a microbial component, can be an effective inducer of processes that regulate plant-parasitic nematode populations in soil.

Epidemiology and integrated control of Nacobbus aberrans on tomato in Mexico

Population densities, population fluctuations, yield loss and disease incidence caused by Nacobbus aberrans on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were studied, using an epidemiological approach, in a field experiment that included three different control regimes: an integrated control (IC) scheme, which included fertilisation, nematicide (ethoprop) and chicken manure; a technical control (TC) scheme, based on the best local practices of fertilisation and use of carbofuran for nematode control; and a check treatment (AC), with no application of fertilisers or nematicide. At least three generations of N. aberrans occurred through the cropping season and the numbers of galls/plant and females/g of root through the crop season were used to define the area under a disease progress curve (AUDPC). The variables b−1 (Weibulls apparent infection rate), AUDPC and Yf (final disease incidence) indicated less crop damage under the IC scheme than under the other two schemes (TC and AC). The IC scheme resulted in increased plant height (41-49%), foliage dry weight (37-53%) and stem diameter (31-41%) compared with the TC and AC schemes. Tomato yields in IC surpassed those from TC and AC by 34 and 83%, respectively, while TC exceeded AC by 73%. The yield loss attributed to N. aberrans was 12, 29 and 83% in IC, TC and AC, respectively. The IC scheme improved commercial production by 20 and 81% in comparison to the TC and AC schemes. This was largely due to effective control of the initial inoculum density, which affects the first generation of the nematode population; control of this generation is essential for avoidance of yield loss. The first generation is completed during the period 0-60 dat (days after transplanting), i.e., during the critical stages of flowering, fruit initiation and fruit set (40, 50 and 60 dat). Data on plant performance taken every 10 days were used to derive a multiple point model for calculation of production loss.

Nematodes Management In Coffee Production Systems

Coffee production in Mexico with particular reference to the diversity of cropping systems and nematode parasites are reviewed. Different cropping systems, including natural or mountain systems, traditional polyculture, specialized or commercial polyculture and sunlight systems are described. Nematodes affecting coffee include root-knot and lesion species, and their interactions with other pathogens, including fungal diseases, are then reviewed. Control strategies and tactics coffee nematodes are revised. The development of programs in the management of nematodes is then proposed, based on different tactics including prevention through quarantine, cultural management, development of clean planting systems, solarisation, use of antagonistic plants, soil amendments, weed host control, inter and intracropping (shade coffee), resistance, applications of chemical nematicides and organic amendments, biological control or use of natural products.