How to protect plants from gall nematodes

The gall nematode is very prolific, has small dimensions and the fight against it is very difficult. All these characteristics suggest that it is one of the most dangerous plant-eating pests. Individuals of this species parasitize in the root system of plants. They penetrate into the tissues and as a result, swelling and growths called galls form on the affected area.

Pest Description

The size of the female can be from 0.2 to 2 mm, which will depend on the species and age of the individual. Males are somewhat different - their body is worm-shaped, narrowed in the front and slightly rounded in the back. Length - from 0.5 to 2 mm. In this case, the females are motionless, and the males have the ability to move.
The larvae of the gall nematode are close to males in body structure. They also have a worm-like shape, but with smaller sizes. The integument is dense, elastic, milky-white color, with age they become transparent.

On a note! The covers of the body of the gall nematode are so strong that they are able to provide reliable protection against chemicals and exposure to aggressive environments. This structural feature makes it very difficult to fight parasites!

Eggs are microscopic in size. The female lays them in egg bags, which consist of a gelatin-like film. At the same time, the number of eggs at a time can be from a few hundred to a thousand.

It is the gall nematode that is often the main culprit in the early death of tomatoes and cucumbers growing in a greenhouse. In addition, it is very harmful to plants such as Turkish cloves and gerbera.

Methods of struggle

If the root gall nematode is wound up on plants, then in this case, infected specimens are recommended to be destroyed immediately. If this method does not suit you, then you can try to reduce the number of parasite colonies to a safe amount.

In this case, the following methods to combat the gall nematode can help:

• mechanical method;
• heat treatment;
• biological agents;
• chemicals.

Mechanical method

To get rid of the gall nematode mechanically, it is necessary to dig up infected plants, remove the rhizomes and divide the bush into several parts. In this case, the more such parts will turn out, the better. After cuttings, each part is cultivated under strict quarantine.

This method allows you to save and subsequently increase the number of plants of the previously infected variety. If we talk about the percentage of healthy and destroyed cuttings, then it will always depend on the type, degree of damage and the distance at which the “clean” part was from the source of pest accumulation.

Important! If you decide to apply the mechanical method, then in this case it is necessary to remember that plants must be in quarantine for at least a year!

Heat treatment

Heat treatment from the root gall nematode is desirable to be carried out during the dormant period of plants, but, in extreme cases, it is allowed to do this when they are transplanted. Infected specimens are removed from the substrate and their roots are immersed in water, the temperature of which should be about + 50 ° C.Depending on the degree of infection, the bushes are kept in water from five minutes to a quarter of an hour. Then they are allowed to cool by moving into already cool water.

On a note! Heat treatment is not able to give a positive result if there are too many gall nematodes. This method is more suitable for prevention when growing a large number of plants!

Biological products

Biological control of the gall nematode is based on an increase in the number of viable organisms in the substrate that can parasitize on the nematode larvae. These include some species of fungi, ticks and predator nematodes.

On a note! In order not to buy a biological product, you can use organic fertilizers or regular sugar. The selected component is introduced into the soil, and after a while it is guaranteed to increase the number of saprophytes, which, in turn, will create the most favorable conditions for the development of the aforementioned organisms!

However, it should be remembered that predatory organisms will not be able to save infected plants.

Chemicals

If you decided to use chemicals to fight the gall nematode, then in this case you should pay attention to nematicides. Such drugs are able to almost completely preserve the fungal-bacterial balance of the substrate. These include Fitoverm and Aktofit. The release form in both the first and second cases is bulk powder. The drug is scattered on the soil surface a couple of days before the planting material is laid and sealed with a cultivator. These nematicides provide reliable prevention of the appearance of the root gall nematode, but they cannot help in a situation when the plant is affected by parasites.

If the plants have already entered the vegetation phase, but they need help, then in such situations it is recommended to use one of the systemic drugs. These include Marshal, Aldoxycarb, Karbofuran and Alanicarb.

Important! However, it should be remembered that they are highly toxic, and therefore can be used exclusively in industrial conditions! Their use in greenhouses and, most importantly, in residential premises is strictly prohibited!

It is advisable to use chemicals only in open areas. If the plants in the greenhouses are exposed to treatment, then in this case it is required to ventilate them first and at the same time ensure forced air circulation.

How to prevent serious infection

As you know, it is almost impossible to completely destroy the gall nematode. For this reason, greenhouses usually face the question of how to reduce the number of parasites to a safe limit and prevent large crop losses. Proper prevention, which is based on:

• timely destruction of weed grass;
• reinforced strait of the substrate in the greenhouse, which should alternate with its drying;
• laying manure in the soil;
• double strait of the substrate with infusion from the plant that is currently being processed, and its alternation with drying the soil;
• growing peas and beans, which are hunting plants for the root gall nematode, as well as watercress, which can dramatically reduce the number of harmful individuals.