Novel Management Strategies for Nematode Pests in Horticulture

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2024 | Viewed by 4316

Special Issue Editors

Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
Interests: agriculture; plant protection; plant pathology; nematology; microbiology; zoology; taxonomy; phylogenetic analysis; ecology and evolution; biodiversity; phylogeography; soil biology and health; sustainable agriculture
Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Northeast Area, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Interests: taxonomy and morphology of plant parasitic nematodes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne, 81, 95124 Catania, CT, Italy
Interests: taxonomy and systematics of nematodes; nematodes in the study of environmental quality; entomopathogenic nematodes and their bacteria: taxonomy, biodiversity, soil quality indices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The nematode community includes both free-living (FLNs) and plant-parasitic (PPNs) nematodes, but the latter is particularly troublesome, as it causes approximately 12% of yield loss worldwide. By contrast, FLNs play a critical role in nutrient cycling, which improves plant production. Root-knot nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp), root lesions (Pratylenchus), and cysts (Heterodera and Globodera) are among the riskiest nematodes for plants and their productions. The context that makes this topic of significant interest is that the world population is anticipated to increase to 8.9 billion by 2050, leading to high food demands around the globe. Therefore, we must find a sustainable way to combat PPNs and achieve food security. The conventional methods of controlling nematodes have already been shown to negatively affect natural resources, such as below-ground water sources and human health. Furthermore, due to the shortage of agricultural land development, we need to double crop yields using sustainable means. Chemical synthetic nematicides yield more production in a short time, but their effects remain a challenging matter for scientists. Therefore, we need to find a solution in the long term to achieve plant production sustainably. Plant-parasitic nematodes face various management strategies, such as cultural practices, crop rotation, resistant and tolerant cultivars or rootstocks, and plant-derived extracts worldwide. We are looking for all-friendly environment strategies, soil health, and sustainable agriculture for managing PPNs and increasing plant production. Plant production through soil health includes microorganism abundance, biodiversity, and their interaction towards the quality of soil and better plant production. Furthermore, sustainable horticulture aiming for healthy soil and plant production is promising for PPN management through their interaction with soil biota. In this Special Issue, we aim to combine novel management strategies for nematode pests in horticulture.

Dr. Ebrahim Shokoohi
Dr. Zafar Ahmad Handoo
Dr. Mirella Clausi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • botanical nematicide
  • crop protection
  • free-living nematodes
  • nematode management
  • resistance cultivars
  • soil health
  • sustainable control

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2721 KiB  
Article
Changes in Soil Nematode and Microbial Community in Cucumber Root-Zone Soil Shaped by Intercropping with Amaranth
by Xu Zhang, Mengyuan Song, Jiafan Li, Xingqun Liu, Lihong Gao and Yongqiang Tian
Horticulturae 2023, 9(8), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9080924 - 13 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1161
Abstract
Intercropping systems often contribute to soil health management including inhibiting root-knot nematode disease. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect of the cucumber-amaranth intercropping system on soil biota, specifically the nematode and microbial communities. Furthermore, the cucumber root-nematode [...] Read more.
Intercropping systems often contribute to soil health management including inhibiting root-knot nematode disease. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect of the cucumber-amaranth intercropping system on soil biota, specifically the nematode and microbial communities. Furthermore, the cucumber root-nematode disease was also evaluated. The study found significant effects of cultivation systems (cucumber-amaranth intercropping and cucumber monocropping) and growing seasons (winter-spring (WS) and autumn-winter (AW)) on both soil nematode and microbial community structures in cucumber root-zone soil. Intercropping resulted in a decrease in the relative abundance of Meloidogyne spp., which was consistent with the observed alleviation of root-knot nematode disease. Bacterivorous nematodes were dominant in the intercropping system. The microbial biomass and community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) were generally higher in the intercropping system. Beta diversity analysis showed that the composition of microbial communities varied widely among the treatments and growth seasons. These findings suggest that intercropping with amaranth can regulate soil biota, leading to decreased incidence of root-knot nematodes (RKNs) diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Management Strategies for Nematode Pests in Horticulture)
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15 pages, 7773 KiB  
Article
Impact of Agricultural Land Use on Nematode Diversity and Soil Quality in Dalmada, South Africa
by Ebrahim Shokoohi
Horticulturae 2023, 9(7), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9070749 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1229
Abstract
During a survey on soil nematode diversity, the soil samples were collected from Field-1 (3-months-not-used land), Field-2 (5-years-not-disturbed land), Field-3 (the rhizosphere of tomatoes), and Field-4 (natural land, not disturbed for 50 years), in Dalmada, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A total of 25 [...] Read more.
During a survey on soil nematode diversity, the soil samples were collected from Field-1 (3-months-not-used land), Field-2 (5-years-not-disturbed land), Field-3 (the rhizosphere of tomatoes), and Field-4 (natural land, not disturbed for 50 years), in Dalmada, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A total of 25 nematode genera were found to be associated with the surveyed plant species. The result showed Acrobeloides, Aphelenchus, Aporcella, Ditylenchus, Mesorhabditis, Pratylenchus, and Rotylenchus with a 100% frequency of occurrence. Meloidogyne was detected only in association with Field-3, with a low frequency of occurrence (25%). The study of the relationship between nematodes with physicochemical properties in the soil using Pearson correlation revealed that phosphate of the soil had a positive correlation (r = 0.977) with Bitylenchus and Pseudacrobeles species. In contrast, pH strongly correlated with Nanidorus (r = 0.928), Trypilina (r = 0.925), Xiphinema (r = 0.925), and Zeldia (r = 0.860). The principal component analysis placed Field-4 and Field-3 in two groups, indicating the biodiversity dynamics among the two locations. Soil texture showed that clay was correlated with Rotylenchulus. In contrast, soil texture had no effect on Meloidogyne. The Shannon index was the lowest (1.7) for Field-1 in Dalmada compared to the other Fields, indicating lower nematode diversity. The structure index showed that Field-2 was disturbed with a low C:N ratio. In contrast, Field-3 and Field-4 had suppressive soil but matured and fertile. The network analysis showed that Panagrolaimus was only found in Field-4 and was the most engaging genus describing soil quality in the soil system in Dalmada. In conclusion, Field-2 showed a high diversity of free-living nematodes than the disturbed land of tomatoes. Additionally, plant-parasitic nematodes numbered more in the rhizosphere of tomatoes. The results suggest that the soil nematodes, especially free-living bacterivores, may mediate the effects of ecosystem disturbance on soil health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Management Strategies for Nematode Pests in Horticulture)
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Review

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19 pages, 5294 KiB  
Review
Control of Nematodes in Organic Horticulture Exploiting the Multifunctional Capacity of Microorganisms
by Ewa M. Furmanczyk and Eligio Malusà
Horticulturae 2023, 9(8), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9080920 - 12 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1008
Abstract
Organic production is expected to play a major role in reducing the impact of agricultural practices on the environment. Soil is considered a major component of the organic production process, and organic practices aim at increasing its health and fertility. However, the control [...] Read more.
Organic production is expected to play a major role in reducing the impact of agricultural practices on the environment. Soil is considered a major component of the organic production process, and organic practices aim at increasing its health and fertility. However, the control of soil-borne pests, particularly plant-parasitic nematodes, can be difficult in organic horticultural crops due to the rules allowed in this farming system. Applying a holistic approach that fosters and exploits the activity of the soil microbiome to control plant-parasitic nematodes has been at the basis of the analysis of the available scientific knowledge carried out for this review article. This review thus focuses on the multifunctional capacity of microorganisms, including that of bacteria and fungi not normally considered biocontrol agents, and the need to also better understand their relations with the plant and other environmental and agronomic factors. The implementation of the “multi-biotics” concept, applying prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, which supports an integrated agroecological strategy for the protection of organic horticultural crops, is proposed as an efficient practice that should be further studied to be adapted under different crops and pedo-climatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Management Strategies for Nematode Pests in Horticulture)
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