Efficacy of nematicides, Tricuran-P (Trichoderma harzianum T-22) and chicken manure on cucumber root-knot nematode populations, plant growth and soil enzyme activities

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., are globally important plant-parasitic nematodes with a very broad host range including cucumber. In this research, we evaluated the nematicidal efficacy of commercial Abamectin-CAP (Vertimec 1.8% EC) versus Iranian-produced Abamectin-IAP (Vertimec 2% EC) compared with Cadusafos (Rugby), Trichoderma harzianum T-22 (Tricuran-P), and chicken manure against the cucumber RKN, Meloidogyne javanica, in commercial greenhouses. We also analyzed the effect of the products and amendment on several soil enzymes because of their significant roles in increasing the rate of decomposition and release of plant available nutrients. The results showed highly significant differences among treatments. The highest reduction of second-stage juveniles (J2) in the soil was recorded for Abamectin-CAP and Abamectin-IAP (93–95%), followed by Tricuran-P (90%), Rugby (82%) and chicken manure (65%). Similar results were obtained for the number of J2 and eggs in the root (94%), root gall indexes (94%), egg mass indexes (74–79%), and reproduction percentage (5.4–8.3%) in the Abamectin-CAP and Abamectin-IAP treatments. Enzyme activity assays showed that Rugby and chicken manure both caused a significant decrease in urease activity, followed by Abamectin-CAP and Abamectin-IAP. The highest alkaline phosphatase activity was observed for Abamectin-IAP and Abamectin-CAP, whereas the highest acidic phosphatase activity was in the Abamectin-CAP treatment. The results form a basis for developing integrated pest management strategies for RKN in cucumber.