Quantitative and qualitative effects of different silver nanoparticles concentrations on the pathogenicity and reproductive of root-knot nematode, M. incognita infecting susceptible sugarbeet variety

Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) is the most economically valuable crop species in the order Caryophyllales. Root knot nematodes interrupt the physiology of the plant and able to cause economic importance great losses in production and quality of sugarbeet crop. Chemical nematicides are usually preferred for their effective control; the problems associated with nematicides application turned the workers vision to focus new alternative agents for nematode management programs. In this study, High throughput microcrystalline cellulose decorated silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) by different concentrations were evaluated as a nematicidal substance in outdoors pots experiment. The chosen tested concentrations were 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 ppm/ml of Ag-NPs with four replicates/ each concentration along with two methods of application [one time application (AT1) and application two times (AT2)], applied to sugarbeet pots infested with Meloidogyne incognita. Applying Ag-NPs directly to infested sugarbeet pots achieved significant suppression at p ≤ 0.05 of root-knot nematode, M. incognita in terms of reducing numbers in soil, reproductive factor, and knot disease severity%. Efficacy % that related to untreated pots and relative efficacy% that proportionated to pots treated with Ethoprop 10% G get higher potential as of Ag-NPs of concentrations get higher. Time of application AT2 enhanced the efficacy of Ag-NPs at low concentration (under 50 ppm/ml) and occasionally above 50 ppm/ml. Effects of different Ag-NPs concentrations and times of application on yield components i.e. Root yield plant(g), Top yield plant(g) and sugar yield plant(g) of infested sugarbeet plant with root-knot nematode, M. incognita, were related to degree of Ag-NPs concentration to suppress nematodes activity. Different concentrations of Ag-NPs increased yield components i.e. Root yield plant(g), Top yield plant(g) and sugar yield plant(g) even at low concentration (20 ppm/ml) in comparison with control treatment (0.0 ppm/ml). The same trend for quality as sucrose, total soluble solids (T.S.S) and purity percentages of sugarbeet infested with root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in pots experiment. Avoidable loss percentage in roots and sugar yields plant(g) as an economic expression responded positively to different levels of Ag-NPs concentrations and to time of application AT2 in low concentration ˂50 ppm/ml. This study has demonstrated a potential environmentally friendly alternative for the management of the root-knot nematodes.