Organic Amendments for Pathogen and Nematode Control

Abstract

The loss of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant and minimal advances in the development and registration of new chemical fumigants has resulted in a resurgence of interest in the application of organic amendments (OAs) for soilborne plant pathogen and plant-parasitic nematode management. Significant progress has been made in the characterization of OAs, application of strategies for their use, and elucidation of mechanisms by which they suppress soilborne pests. Nonetheless, their utility is limited by the variability of disease control, expense, and the logistics of introducing them into crop production systems. Recent advances in molecular techniques have led to significant progress in the elucidation of the role of bacteria and fungi and their metabolic products on disease suppression with the addition of OAs. Biosolarization and anaerobic soil disinfestation, developed to manipulate systems and favor beneficial microorganisms to maximize their impact on plant pathogens, are built on a strong historical research foundation in OAs and the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of disease-suppressive soils. This review focuses on recent applications of OAs and their potential for the management of soilborne plant pathogens and plant-parasitic nematodes, with emphasis primarily on annual fruit and vegetable production systems.

Marine Organisms for the Sustainable Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes

“…EC 1107/2009; 459/2010 and 293/2013), which focus on animal and human health as well as the environment. The total ban or restricted use of most nematicides has raised an urgent need for safe and effective control options [8], thus increasing research on sustainable alternatives such as biocontrol agents, green manures and organic amendments [9][10][11][12]. Compounds deriving from plants, microorganisms and marine organisms could ensure a virtuous combination of nematicidal efficacy and environmental safety, as their natural origin ensures their low persistence both in soil and crops and, therefore, a low impact on the environment and human and animal health [13,14].…”

Biodisinfestation With Agricultural By-Products Developed Long-Term Suppressive Soils Against Meloidogyne incognita in Lettuce Crop

“…The negative attributes of soil chemical fumigants are of increasing concern, and therefore more attention is given to non-chemical approaches for soilborne pest control (Klein et al, 2012;Mocali et al, 2015). Among them, soil biodisinfestation, which includes the use of organic amendments, is widespread in pest management as an effective and healthy alternative for soil treatments (Rosskopf et al, 2020). Soil biodisinfestation is a general term for the different approaches developed to control soilborne diseases using organic matter as main driver, but different terms can be found to define each approach.…”

“…These conditions promote certain physical, microbiological and biochemical processes that contribute to disease reduction and even a decrease in soil pathogen populations (Katan, 2014;Katan and Gamliel, 2014). In climate regions with low solar radiation, labile C-sources are used to boost anaerobic conditions and this strategy is commonly called anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) (Shennan et al, 2018;Rosskopf et al, 2020). Another practice is the incorporation of plants of the Brassicaceae family, which is known as biofumigation (Kirkegaard et al, 1993).…”

“…These biodisinfestation practices have shown positive results against different soilborne pathogens (Ntalli et al, 2020;Rosskopf et al, 2020), plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) among them, which are important pests of a wide range of crops (Avato et al, 2013;Fourie et al, 2016;Dutta et al, 2019;Talavera et al, 2019). PPNs are very diverse and can cause different damage to host plants.…”

“…Besides, it has little commercial interest and few studies have been done for agricultural use or other fields. Considering previous studies, the incorporation of crop residues and animal manures and Brassicacea-based management strategies are most common treatments used against PPN (Brennan et al, 2020;Rosskopf et al, 2020). Rapeseed (Brassica napus "Canola") cake is the by-product obtained after the oil extraction and is often marketed in livestock feed due to its high protein content and low glucosinolates concentration (<15 µmol/g).…”