Abstract:
Chemical control methods have been practicing for years to control the Root Knot
Nematodes (RKN), a devastating pest in tobacco. Due to the deleterious effects of
chemical methods on human health and environment alternative methods need to he
developed. With these objectives, a study was conducted to investigate biopesticidal
approaches, including biological agents, ground neem seed and tobacco waste dust,
for the control of RNK in tobacco. Suppression of RKN was examined under field
condition by assessing the disease incidence with root knot count and parasitic
nematode count. Seedling density, fresh weight, dry weight, shoot length and root
length of tobacco also were measured to examine the growth performances. Results
indicated that ground neem seed treatment has suppressed the RKN disease to the
best level expressing least number of knots and parasitic nematodes. Tobacco waste
treatment has been the second best followed by the treatment with Pseudomonas
fluorescens. Although, Trichoderma viride has not controlled the infection much it
has significantly improved the seedling density and vegetative growth. Further
experiments should be conducted to detect the combined effect of these
biopesticides.
