Plant-Parasitic Nematode Management by Phytobiomes and Application of Fly Ash

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematode causes enormous damages to various crops. To manage this tiny pest through ecofriendly approaches is the need of the hour. Application of biocontrol agents in the management of phytopathogenic nematodes has been a promising tool. There are a wide range of biocontrol agents including fungi and rhizobacteria which can protect the crops from pathogens/pest attack and also promote the yield attributes. It also improves the germination of the seed, helps in the development of root, and much more important thing, it increases the water utilization rate in plants. Moreover, some of the particulate air pollutants are also recommended for the management of phytonematodes. Among the particulate matter, fly ash was found to be most resistant to nematodes. Application of fly ash improves the growth of many crop plants when amended in the soil at low levels due to the presence of almost all the macro- and micronutrients. Many of the researchers observed that fly ash suppress the nematode population or disease caused by nematode in roots of plants, and this is due to the presence of many heavy metals in it.