Can Agricultural Practices in Strawberry Fields Induce Plant–Nematode Interaction towards Meloidogyne-Suppressive Soils?

Abstract

The importance of benign approaches to manage the root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.) in strawberry farms has become more evident with increasing strawberry production and export in Egypt. Therefore, data accumulated on biosolarization and soil amendments to favor beneficial microorganisms and maximize their impact on RKN management are built on a robust historical research foundation and should be exploited. We examined RKN population levels/parameters in three strawberry export governorates, six farms per governorate, to characterize the exact production practices that are responsible for RKN-suppressive soils. All selected farms enjoyed soil biodisinfestation resulting from incorporating organic amendments followed by a plastic cover to suppress soil pathogens. Various safe and inexpensive agricultural practices in the El-Ismailia and El-Beheira governorates were compared to the toxic and expensive fumigants that could eliminate RKNs in the Al-Qalyubia governorate. Two farms at El-Ismailia were of special interest as they ultimately showed almost zero counts of RKNs. The two farms were characterized by incorporating cow manure [containing 0.65% total nitrogen, 21.2 carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio] and poultry manure (0.72% total nitrogen, 20.1 C/N ratio) followed by soil solarization via transparent, 80-µm thick plastic covers for 60–65 summer days as pre-strawberry cultivation practices, and similar covers were used after transplanting. Typically, the longer the pre-plant soil solarization period with thicker transparent plastic covers, the better it could suppress the RKN population densities in the tested farms. Their soils were characterized by relatively high pH and low electrical conductivity. The significant development in biocontrol genera/species abundance and frequency could explain the lower (p < 0.0001) RKN population levels inhabiting the farms of El-Ismailia than the El-Beheira governorate. These factors could provide the first approximation of key practices and factors that could collectively contribute to distinguishing and exploiting soil suppressiveness against RKNs. We discussed edaphic properties and production practices that could modulate populations of natural RKN antagonists for sustainable strawberry cultivation.

Soil bio-solarization and Trichoderma asperellum suppress black root rot disease and increase strawberry yield

“…The latter study reported that soil temperatures were raised to 56, 52, and 46 °C in mulched compared with 41, 38, and 34 °C in unmulched soil at soil depths of 1-10, 11-20, and 21-30 cm, respectively. Our present study documented previous studies (Culman et al, 2006;Farag-Eman & Fotouh, 2010;Abd-Elgawad et al, 2019;Hammam et al, 2022) concerning the considerable reduction in incidence and severity of plant diseases with enhancement in the crop yield following bio-solarization. Such an appraisal should be inspected in the context of several beneficial practices and impacts of soil bio-solarization on other pests, pathogens, PPNs, and weeds.…”

“…Various aspects of mulching Egyptian soil to effectively control black root rot (Abd-Elgawad et al, 2019) and root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. (Hammam et al, 2022) diseases on strawberry were discussed. Basically, mulching soil in hot seasons enhances its temperature to levels lethal to not only numerous soil-borne plant pathogens but also weeds, insects, and PPNs (Farag & Fotouh, 2010;Abd-Elgawad et al, 2019;Elshahawy & Saied-Nehal, 2021).…”

“…Such an appraisal should be inspected in the context of several beneficial practices and impacts of soil bio-solarization on other pests, pathogens, PPNs, and weeds. Because standard production practices of strawberry in Egypt usually involves incorporating organic amendments to precede soil mulching, relevant biodisinfestation of strawberry soils are likely occurred (Hammam et al, 2022). Such a biodisinfestation comprises enhanced microbiological activities in soil where materials as FeS, phenols, and/or organic acids are produced and help to inactivate or harm plant pathogens/pests.…”

“…fruits are flushing into many importer countries as an Egyptian specialty crop. Mediterranean climate, fertile soils, geographic center, and cheap labor are leading factors for continuous increase in its acreage (Hammam et al, 2022). Its sustainable production entails utilizing benign techniques and materials to control strawberry pathogens/pests and provide foreign exchange revenue of super export and satisfied local consumption.…”

Vineyard Management and Physicochemical Parameters of Soil Affect Native Trichoderma Populations, Sources of Biocontrol Agents against Phaeoacremonium minimum

“…In this study, no differences in terms of the type of fertilization (manure or chemical fertilizers) were described to facilitate a reliable statistical analysis. As significant differences were achieved when applying any type of fertilization, it could also be due to an alteration of the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in the soil (C/N) or to other nutrients that alter the composition of the microbiota in soil [ 63 ]. To sum up, the highest presence of Trichoderma was found in acid soils (pH 5.5–6.5) where non-tillage, fertilization and herbicide spraying are performed.…”