Efficacy of the Available Soil Fumigants for the Control of the Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in Tomato in Plastic-House

A trial was conducted within the frame of the investigations on alternatives to methyl bromide. Therefore, the efficacy of the available fumigants 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) (200 L/ha), dazomet (80 g/m(2)), chloropicrine (30 g/m(2)), metham sodium (2000 L/ha), metham potassium (1200 L/ha), and the integration of 1,3-D (200 L/ha) with chloropicrine (30 g/m(2)) on the control of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, was assessed in comparison with untreated plots in tomato cultivar 'Incas', in an unheated plastic-house, in Italy. 1,3-D was the most effective fumigant as it resulted in least nematode soil population density and galling index of the nematode and greatest yield increase (60%) of tomato. The second best performance in the control of the nematode was given by the combination of 1,3-D and chloropicrine. All the remaining fumigants also controlled the nematode and increased yield but to a lesser extent. Dazomet and chloropicrine suppressed nematode soil population density and root gall index of tomato similarly but significantly more than metham sodium and metham potassium.