Efficacy of soil solarization and post-planting mulch on control of root-knot nematodes

Abstract

Experiments were canied out in naturally infested soil with root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., in the summer season of 2005 and 2006 at tvvo locations in Beheira governorate, Egypt. Five different color polyethylene sheets (transparent, red, black, green and blue) were used to cover the naturally infested soil as a solarization and postplanting mulch. Reduction in number of galls, egg-masses, females/root system and number of second stage juveniles (h)/250 g soil was recorded as compared to untreated control. The highest reduction percentage of total nematode population and reproduction rates of Meloidogvne spp., were occuned in transparent sheet compared to the others. Tomato plant growth parameters were also markedly enhanced m different color sheets.