CONTROL OF THE ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE, MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA, IN ORGANIC PROTECTED CROPS IN SICILY

The effectiveness of different methods for controlling the root-knot, Meloidogyne incognita, suitable in organic farming in protected crops, was assessed in tomato during the 2009-2010 crop cycle, on sandy soil in a coastal area of southern Sicily (Italy). The treatments tested were: 60 day soil solarization alone and combined with commercial formulations of plant extracts of Quillaja saponaria Molina, Azadiractha indica Juss., Brassica carinata A. Brown, Tagetes spp., mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus spp.), or pellets and extracts of A. indica. The formulations were applied three or four times at intervals of 30 days. Non treated plots served as a control. The application of plant extracts or the mycorrhizal fungi combined with soil solarization significantly reduced the population of M. incognita in the soil and suppressed root galling on tomatoes compared to both non treated and solarized control plots. All plant derived formulations combined with soil solarization increased marketable yield. The greatest increases were obtained using A. indica or the mycorrhizal formulations in combination with soil solarization.