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Sustainable effect of fodder radish to the abundance dynamic of northern root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla in organic farming

Project


Project code: 02OE107/F
Contract period: 01.02.2004 - 31.10.2004
Budget: 9,923 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research

Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla is an important pathogen in organic farming. There are no direct control measures nor resistant crops available to control this nematode. The currently only possible control measure is crop rotation using non-host crops or less susceptible crops or cultivars. In the previous project 02OE107 it was shown that fodder radish (Raphanus sativus) grown as green manure or trap crop has potential to control M. hapla. The aim of this project was to study the effect of fodder radish as pretreatment on the yield of a succeeding potato crop. The experiments were conducted on two organic farms in Niedersachsen. Besides M. hapla both experimental fields were also infested with Pratylenchus spp. The initial and final population density was recorded for both nematodes and the reproduction rate calculated. In 2004 M. hapla did not reproduce on potato although overall conditions were favourable for nematode reproduction. It can only be speculated that the chosen cultivars ''Linda'' and ''Solara'' were less susceptible for M. hapla infestation. In contrary, Pratylenchus spp. developed well on both potato cultivars with reproduction rates ranging between 2,3 and 8,4. Potato yield varied between pretreatments, but differences were not significant. Other factors such as nutrient release during decomposition of the different pretreatments might have overlapped any nematode effect. However, results clearly indicated that reproduction of M. hapla was significantly less for the fodder radish cultivar ''Commodore'' than for ''Siletina'' and therefore should be preferably grown on infested soil. Best control of M. hapla was achieved with season-long black fallow, but for practical reasons, black fallow is often seen critical for its negative effect regarding nutrient leakage, erosion and soil compaction. An alternative might be the use of trap crops. Fodder radish ''Siletina'' grown as trap crop inhibited M. hapla reproduction in 2003 but not significantly. The unusual warm conditions of 2003 caused M. hapla to develop very rapidly and the fodder radish was incorporated too late for a better reduction in nematode numbers. When repeated in 2004 reduction of M. hapla was 97 %. Regarding Pratylenchus, all pretreatments except black fallow caused a population increase. Control of this nematode requires different strategies.

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