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Crops
• Adult female nematodes lay egg masses on the root surface • J1 (juvenile) stage develops inside the egg • J1 develops into free-living J2 stage attracted to the root, which it invades. Invasion and subsequent feeding stimulates the formation of ‘giant cells’, which collectively form ‘galls’ (knots) on the roots • The J2 stage subsequently develops through J3 and J4 stages and eventually into the adult nematode inside the root
A softer touch control alternative Omex Agrifluids’, soluble plant nutrient specialist, all-natural product based on extracts from garlic and other plant species can go easy on crops and tough on nematodes. In earlier times, Egyptian farmers planted garlic between tomatoes and cucumbers to suppress soilborne nematode pests although they were not aware of ‘the root’ of the problem. “Omex Vigga is a natural soil amendment product applied to the root zone to protect plants from nematode attack” said Omex’s export director Peter Prentis. “This new product is a highly concentrated water-soluble suspension based on garlic extract obtained by cell burst technology,” added Alan Lowes, regional director at Omex. The garlic extract contains ‘allicin’ coformulated in Omex Vigga with another naturally occurring plant extract acting as a synergist. “Sulphur is the key active in Omex Vigga as 4,000ppm of elemental sulphur (S) and
Plant nematodes are not typically controlled using just one method mentioned above, but instead they are managed using a combination of methods in an integrated pest management system
10,000ppm of sulphite (SO3), which manages nematodes and provides a bio-stimulatory boost to crop growth and development,” Prentis noted. Omex Vigga is a preventative control product and kills juvenile nematodes on contact. It is not systemic and, therefore, cannot enter the plant to kill established root feeding adults but by the same token does not present any residue problems for harvested produce. “There is no withholding period for Omex Vigga,” Alan said. Recommending Vigga for use at the planting stage, Omex said that it will provide crucial base-line protection at planting the crops and thereafter.
“Growers faced with severe nematode infestations on established crops may still have to use an appropriate chemical nematicide to provide a single ‘big hit’, but thereafter can app mex Vigga with Omex Bio20 for extended protection,” Prentis added. Bio20 is a nutritional bio-stimulant targeted at root systems and repairs the damage caused by nematode invasion and feeding. Greenhouse and outdoor cropping systems equipped with micro/drip/trickle irrigation systems are ‘tailor made’ for the dual delivery of Vigga and Bio20 in a combined chemigation/fertigation operation. n — By Dr Terry Mabbett
Tomato plants are highly susceptible to root knot nematodes
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FAR EASTERN AGRICULTURE Issue Six 2014 | www.fareasternagriculture.com