Opportunities for biological control of root-knot nematodes in organic farming system: A review

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes are among the main plant parasites causing tremendous yield reduction of food crops. Root-knot nematodes are among the most damaging one in agriculture, causing a significant loss on a wide range of food crops in the world. Moreover, root-knot nematodes attack more than 200 plant species, causing about 100 billion $USD annually worldwide. Furthermore, wide host range colonization abilityshort generation times, high reproduction capacity and endoparasitic nature of root-knot nematodes make their control difficult as compared to the plant parasites, having narrow host range. Over the years, several approaches and methods have been researched and evolved in controlling root-knot nematodes. Biological control is a low risk, economically and ecologically viable means to control diseases and pests. Thobjective of this review study was to evaluate the efficiency of bio-control agentagainst root-knot nematodes, possible related problems that attended biological contromethods as well as the economic and environmental advantages of biological control
systems over conventional system. Finally, this desk study concluded that, remarkablsuccess in controlling nematodes and increasing crop yield was found through application of biological control measures. Application of biological control means resulted in no hazardous effect on the environment, human health and water that wacaused by the applications of biological agents in a single or in compatible combination use, reduced production cost is also observed. Further investigation is recommendesince biological control methods are still in a developmental stage so as to identify the possible related problems that come with biological control methods.