Plant-parasitic nematodes as a potential threat to protected agriculture: Current status and management options. (June 2021) - Phani, Victor
Abstract: Due to climate change, population explosion, shrinkage of arable land and reduced water availability, a paradigm shift in global crop production is occurring towards protected agriculture. This input-intensive farming provides year-round production under controlled environment and by occasionally utilizing vertical spaces for soilless cultivation. Unlike open field agriculture, soil-borne plant-parasitic nematodes proliferate heavily inside the protected structure due to continuous monoculture, maintenance of stable microclimate, recycling of nematode-infected growing medium and planting materials by unaware growers. In the current decade, nematodes have emerged as a major yield reducing factor in protected agriculture, especially after phasing out of methyl bromide. To date, fragmented and limited information about nematode problem and its management tactics in protected cultivation exists in literature. But, nematode damage has skyrocketed under the protected structures in several parts of the world accounting a heavy toll, and the growers can hardly get rid of this menace. Therefore, the need arose to summarize, update and discuss the topic in a comprehensive manner. This article describes the global nematode incidence in protected agriculture by assigning a preferential order according to their degree of damage potential in different crops. A number of management options are suggested that are customizable in different agro-climatic regimes. Since the choice of crops and nematode incidence in protected agriculture differ according to locations, futuristic management studies should run in a holistic approach considering the interactions between nematode communities, host plants and biotic/abiotic environmental factors. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Lesser land- and water-demanding protected agriculture is being adopted globally. Congenial microclimate in protected structure aids nematode infectivity in crops. Current review discuss nematode problem and its remedy in protected agriculture.