Plant Nematode Control

Abstract

The cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii belongs to the most important biotic stress factors in sugar beet cultivation. Nematodes can be controlled by crop rotation, by fumigation with nematicides or by growing resistant crops. However, nematicides are no longer admitted to be used because of their toxic environmental impacts, the crop rotation system is often agronomically impracticable and the genetic resistance is so far not available in sugar beet germplasms. Thus, alternative strategies for nematode control have been applied in the past years. For instance, genetic resistance from wild beet species were identified and transferred into the elite breeding materials. Today several nematode tolerant varieties of sugar beet are commercially available. In addition, different approaches based on genetic engineering have been developed to improve plant nematode resistance. Nevertheless, an effective control of nematodes in sugar beet cultivation still remains a great challenge. © 2011 Society for Sugar Research & Promotion.