Effects of neem formulations applied as soil drenching on the development of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on roots of tomato

The effects of neem formulations applied as soil drenching on the development of second stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne javanica on roots of susceptible tomato cv. Tiny-Tim was investigated at controlled environment consisted of photoperiod of 16 h light/8 h dark at 3O°C during light and 24.1°C during dark. Thirty day old seedlings were transplanted singly in 15cm diam., pots filled with autoclaved proprietary based loam. Beginning 7-days after transplant, three neem formations viz., neem cake, aza 5 mg and 10 mg were drenched @ 10 ml per pot. Water and 4% ethanol treated plants were included as check for comparison. Three days after the application, plants were inoculated with freshly hatched 250 J2 suspended in 10 ml of water surrounding root zone of each plant. Each treatment consisted of 5 replications. The experimental plants were completely randomized on a bench in a growth room. The roots of tomato plants drenched with three neem formulations and ethanol equal numbers of J2 penetrated but significantly less than that of water check plants. Three neem treatments including aza (5mg), aza (10mg) arrested the development of J2 over that of water check. The roots of plants treated with aza (10mg) allowed less number of J2 to develop into immature females than on roots of ethanol check plants. The plants treated with all three neem formulations and ethanol responded less in terms of root gall formation over that of water check. Aza at 10mg was found most effective in protecting the roots against nematode infection. These findings warrant the use of neem as biocide to manage the nematode populations.