Soil solarization in plastic bags to control the root-knot, Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica

Abstract

The infested seedlings constitute one of the ways of spreading this root-knot in cultured areas. In order to evaluate the solarization method for the eradication of Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica in infested soil, an experiment was developed at Federal University of Ceará. This experiment consisted of 10 treatments with 6 repetitions, in delineation entirely randomized in factorial arrangement of 2 factors (A: color of bag and B: days). Transparent and black plastic bags were filled with 2 kg of soil previously infested with the pathogen. The treatments were defined: T1, T2, T3 and T4 – solarization in transparent plastic bags for 2; 5; 8 and 11 days, respectively; T5- transparent plastic bags kept in shade for 11 days (control); T6, T7, T8, T9 – solarization in back plastic bags for 2; 5; 8 and 11 days, respectively; T10 – black plastic bags kept in shade for 11 days (control). The solarization was led with a continous monitoring of soil temperature. At the end of each exposition period, the soil contained in the each bag was distributed in vases of 2kg in which tomato (Lycopersicon esculetum) seedlings ‘Santa Clara’ were planted. After 45 days, the roots of the tomato plants were observed. It was verified that the solarization of soil in transparent bags for 5; 8 and 11 days eradicated the nematode. The same result was observed in black bags only after 8 and 11 days. In the other treatments and in the controls, the pathogen was present in the plants’ roots. The efficiency of the solarization using transparent plastic bags suggests the recommendation of this soil treatment for the production of seedlings.