Two greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to assess the effectiveness of dried leaf powder and extractives (ethanolic, and aqueous extracts) of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) or organic fertilizer (vermicompost) and two commercial products namely BioNematon (Purpureocillium lilacinum) and Abamectin, Gold (Streptomyces avermitilis) on eggplant growth parameters and Meloidogyne incognita infection. In both experiments observed data revealed that combined applications showed better performance than did single ones. Eggplant growth parameters in terms of fresh shoot and root lengths, and shoot and root weights were remarkably improved with single application of Abamectin or BioNematon followed by plant extracts or vermicompost resulting in a significant (P<0.05) suppression in nematode population in soil and root as well as the number of galls and egg masses. However, the potential of bioagent was increased with the addition of Moringa leaf powder and significantly (P<0.05) enhanced eggplant growth and suppressed nematode population, root galling and female fecundity even no significant differences were recorded compared to Oxamyl. Vermicompost derived from municipal wastes showed a low C/N ratio (1:14) with an excess of nitrogen that exhibited nematicidal activity against M.incognita. The addition of vermicompost with such bio-agents showed a synergistic effect upon nematode population, root galling and number of females. Significant differences whether in plant growth or nematode reproduction were not detected compared to Oxamyl. Thus the current study revealed the potential of leaf powder and extractives of Moringa, vermicompost, P.lilacinum and S.avermitilis as safe alternatives to control M.incognita infecting eggplant through an integrated management program and bring sustainability to agriculture.

A survey of plant parasitic nematodes associated with the rhizosphere of cotton cvs. Giza 86 and 45 grown in fourteen locations of Dakahlia and Damaita governorates was carriedout during the cotton growing seasons of 2005 and 2006, , in addition, a pot experiment was conducted to determine host suitability of three cotton cultivars i.e. Giza 86, 89 and Giza 45 to Meloidogyne incognita infection under greenhouse condition at 30±5ºC . Twelve nematode genera were recorded in cotton fields surveyed in Dakahlia governorate, whereas nine nematode genera only for those of Damaita governorate. Based on their frequency of occurrence these genera can be arranged in descending order as follows: Tylenchus (46.3%), Tylenchorhynchus (39.7%), Xiphinema(23.9%), Meloidogyne (19.0%), Rotylenchus (10.7), Hirschmanniella (9.1%), Trichodorus (8.25%) ,Hoplolaimus(7.49%), Rotylenchulus (7.4%), Helicotylenchus (4.9%) , Psilenchus (1.6%) and Pratylenchus (0.82%),for Dakahlia , whereas Meloidogyne (68.0%) , Tylenchus (64.0%), Tylenchorhynchus (60.0%), Heterodera (38.0%), Dorylaimus (14.0%), Hirschmanniella (10.0%), Helicotylenchus (8.0%) ,Aphelenchus ( 8.0%0) and Psilenchus (2.0%) for Damiata. cotton cv. Giza 86 appeared to encounter the highest number of nematode genera (10) while Giza 45 gained (5) only. Screening of the selected cotton cultivars against M. incognita infection revealed that plant growth parameters tested were obviously affected to a certain extent, where cotton cv. Giza 89 showed the least percentage reduction for shoot and root lengths, and total plant fresh and shoot dry weights with values of 4.9, 7.5, 2.5 and 0.44%, respectively, On the other hand, cotton cv. Giza 86 and 45 recorded the highest percentage reduction values for the same growth parameters. Based on root-gall index and R factor of M. incognita infecting cotton cultivars tested, Giza 89 was scored as resistant while Giza 45 as well as Giza 86 were scored as susceptible hosts since their root gall indices were 2, 5 and 4 with R factor values of 0.4, 2.31 and1.11, respectively.

Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the nematicidal activity of certain alkaloid plants namely, periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), datura (Datura stramonium), lupin (Lupinus albus), pomegranate (Punica granatum) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita infecting cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) infecting cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var.cantaloupensis). Dried powdered parts of such plants were screened at three rates (1, 3 and 5g / plant). In most treatments data indicated a positive correlation between tested rates and plant biomass. Dried leaf powder of C. roseus (62.5%) as well as dried seed powder of L. albus ( 52.8%), and T. foenum-graecum ( 43.2 %) induced remarkable improvement in total plant fresh weight of cucumber at the rate of 5g/plant. However, dried leaf powder of D. stramonium (41.4%) recorded a significant increase in total plant fresh weight at the rate of 3g/plant. By all treatments of alkaloid plants root-knot nematode population whether in soil and roots, root galling and number of egg masses were significantly suppressed. Dried leaf powder of C. roseus at three tested rates (71.8, 71.6 and 72.6%) performed the best and suppressed total nematode population of M. incognita followed by T. foenumgraceum at 5g/plant (70.1%). On the other hand, a slight to moderate improvement in plant growth parameters of cantaloupe infected with R. reniformis was indicated in pots receiving alkaloids plants. The highest percentage of increase in total plant fresh weight was noticed with dried leaf powder of C. roseus at three tested rates (28.5, 31.4 and 32.6%) respectively. The best protection of cantaloupe against R. reniformis was recorded with dried seed powder of T. foenum-graecum (57.9, 65.2 and 75.0%) and P. granatum (55.4, 55.9 and 61.7%) at three tested rates, respectively which ultimately suppressed R. reniformis population.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of certain soil organic matters i.e. poultry or horse manures or dried-leaf powders of periwinkle (Chatharanthus roseus) or castor (Ricinus communis) in comparison with oxamyl against Meloidogyne incognita on Egyptian cotton cv. Giza 45 in vivo. Five grams of each soil organic amendments were separately added to cotton seedlings cultivated in pots, as well as oxamyl at the recommended dose, one day before nematode inoculation process. Results revealed that all tested materials significantly improved plant growth parameters and reduced nematode population density, number of galls, females and egg-masses on roots of cotton plants. Of the tested organic matters, poultry manure achieved the highest percentage increase in plant length, shoot dry weight and fresh weight of whole plant with values of 54.4, 74.7and 37.2%, respectively, followed by perwinkle powder for the first two parameters with values of 51.0 and 65.9%, respectively, whereas, castor powder for the later parameter with value of 44.7% as compared with nematode alone. Moreover, oxamyl treatment ranked first in percentage increase values of shoot dry weight (87.9%) and fresh weight of whole plant (62.5%), respectively, and second to poultry manure treatment with value of plant length (58.0%) comparing to nematode alone. In addition, nonsignificant differences between all tested organic matters regarding nematode parameters were noticed. However, oxamyl application surpassed them in suppressing nematode population density (68.9%), number of galls (67.6%) and eggmasses (65.8%), respectively, as compared with nematode alone. Meanwhile, among the organic matters tested, pots received poultry manure showed the highest percentage reduction in nematode population density (53.3%), followed by horse manure (51.3%), then periwinkle powder (50.4%), and castor powder (49.4%), as compared with nematode alone. These results demonstrated the potential of such organic matters to protect cotton plant against M. incognita under greenhouse conditions.

The host suitability of ten medicinal plant species i.e. carnation, celery, coriander, dill, geranium, peppermint, periwinkle, rose geranium, thorn apple and thyme to Meloidogyne incognita infection indicated that none of the tested plant species was immune and the incidence varied from plant species to another. Their host category was determined through the relationship between host plant growth response (% reduction of total plant fresh weight) or gall index and nematode reproduction factor (RF). Carnation and thyme were rated as highly susceptible (HS) or susceptible (S) hosts, since their plant growth parameters were highly affected along with reproduction factor >1. Rose geranium was rated as moderately intolerant (IT) or moderately resistant (MR), since its plant growth character was moderately affected along with reproduction factor <1. Geranium was rated as fairly resistant (FR) or (MR), since its plant growth criterion was moderately affected with reproduction factor >1. Dill, celery, coriander, thorn apple and periwinkle were classified as resistant (R) or moderately resistant (MR)hosts, since their plant growth were not affected with reproduction factors <1, depending upon the host suitability designations used.

The influence of six essential oils i.e. garlic, sesame, neem, castor, chamomile, and linseed added to aseptic culture (MS medium) used for growth of tomato seedlings cv Strain-B before transplanting in pots with sterilized sandy loam soil on Meloidogyne incognita infection was studied under greenhouse conditions 30±5°C. Results indicated that all of the tested essential oils introduced into growth media protected and improved tomato plant growth of either the infected or uninfected with nematodes to a certain extent. Among all tested materials, castor oil gave the highest increment in fresh weight of the whole plant either infected or uninfected with values of 135.42% and 217.59%, respectively. The same trend was observed with castor oil in respect to increasing shoot dry weight of the healthy tomato plants (37.14%) whereas recorded the second to linseed oil treatment with the infected plants with values of 32.56% and 35.2%, respectively. Moreover, sesame oil application achieved the second values to castor oil treatment in increase percentage of both fresh weight of whole plant (132%) as well as shoot dry weight (29.24%), respectively. The highest reduction percentage in nematode population was obtained with castor oil treatment which amounted to 93.53% followed by linseed oil application with value of 92.71%. Among all tested essential oils, sesame oil significantly decreased number of galls on tomato roots with reduction percentage of 90%, followed by those treated with either chamomile or linseed oils with value of 87.5% each. M. incognita did not produce egg-masses on plants treated with all of the tested materials and considered as highly resistant due to egg-masses indices (zero each) whereas those received linseed oil as very resistant with egg-masses index value of 3 and reduction percentage value of 97.4%.

The role of spray application of three inorganic fertilizers MnSO4, ZnSO4 and CaCl2 at three concentration each viz: 50, 100 and 150 mg/l of the first two elements and 100, 200 and 300 mg/l for the latter fertilizer three times at one week interval in comparison with oxamyl at the recommended dose (0.39/plant) on development and reproduction of M. incognita infecting tomato plants cv. Castle Rock and plant growth was studied under greenhouse conditions (29±7ºC). Obviously all tested nutrient minerals with their concs. significantly improved plant growth parameters and reduced nematode criteria, respectively as well to great extent. Among the tested inorganic fertilizers, CaCl2 at 200 mg/l/plant overwhelmed other treatments, followed by that of MnSO4 at 150 mg/l in the increments values of plant growth parameters such as shoot dry weights (30 and 21.1%). whereas, ZnSO4 at 100 mg/l application had the lowest value (9.6%) in this respect, respectively. Similar trend was noticed regarding reduction of nematode criteria such as population density (90.8, 90.7 and 90.2%) respectively. Likewise, nematode multiplication was also affected by the tested nutrient elements performing the above trend, where CaCl2 at 200 mg/l and ZnSO4 at 50 mg/l/plant represented of minimum and maximum values that averaged 0.13 and 0.16 vs 1.39 for nematode alone respectively. N, P, K concs., chlorophyll and total phenol contents in leaves of tomato either infected with M. incognita or not as influenced by foliar spraying of the tested inorganic fertilizers were reported and discussed.

The nematicidal properties of eight isolates of rhizobacteria as well as an isolate of Pseudomons fluorescens against egg hatching and juveniles mortality of Meloidogyne incognita after different exposure periods were investigated in vitro. Results indicated that all tested bacteria caused significant effects on M. incognita with different percentages of egg hatching inhibition and juveniles mortality. Out of bacterial isolates, 2KT (54.0%), 3SN (49.2%) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (46.4%) significantly induced the greatest egg hatching inhibition of M. incognita. Moreover, the longer the exposure to bacterial isolates the higher the juvenile mortality was revealed. The bacterial isolates 2KT and 3SN that exhibited pronounced nematicidal activity against M. incognita were identified as Bacillus subtilis and P.aeuroginosa, respectively.