A nematicide of biological origin. The fungus Paecilomyces can be used as a bionematicide.
One of the major problems in plantation and horticultural crops including vegetables are nematodes. Scientific study reports about 20,000 identified soil nematodes.
Nematodes feed damage the plant roots and reduce the water and nutrient uptake which results in reduction in yield. In addition, the infested plant becomes more vulnerable to other stress factors such as heat, water shortage, nutritional deficiencies and disease-causing organisms. It is difficult to control these nematodes with common chemical pesticides.
Paecilomyces spp. can act at different nematode developmental stages by infecting eggs, young or adult nematodes. Egg infection occurs when hyphae lie flat on the egg surface and appresoria are formed. Then, the fungus spreads and conidiophores are formed.
Nematode eggshell is the main barrier against parasite agents and provides resistance to both chemical nematicides and biological compounds. Paecilomyces species are capable of secreting enzymes to degrade this barrier and deploying mechanisms involved in nematode parasitism
A thorough bio-efficacy study revealed the effective control of the following nematode species:
Beneficial Insects | Bio Pesticides | Bio Fertilizers
