Nematode Nemesis: How Paecilomyces lilacinus Fights Root-Knot Nematodes

Being soil borne, pest problems are always a constant menace to most farmers. Of these pests, root knot nematodes are one of the more devastating and affect the production of crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and strawberries. These small worms penetrate the plant root and create galls out of which they feed, thereby depriving the plant of water and nutrients to produce stunted and poor yielding plants in the worst scenario, death.

Because of the high prices farmers pay for chemical treatments, the environmental impact of these products, and the need to find alternatives, the subject has never been timelier. Introducing Paecilomyces lilacinus, another biocontrol agent that is causing shifts in management of nematodes.

The Problem: Root-Knot Nematodes

Emma Hernandez, an organic strawberry farmer, making her livelihood from a rural farming community in California, greatly experienced this problem. Her farm used to be able to produce fresh organic strawberries for years now her yields have started decreasing. Their strawberry plants started producing yellow leaves, wilting, and poor growth and they couldn’t fix it even with organic fertilizer and water. When examined more carefully she realised that most of the plants in the pots had roots that were gall and blistered due to root-knot nematode (RKN). These microscopic pests had invaded her soil, and here farm was at risk for an economic loss that forced her family farm business.

Root-knot nematodes are well-known for their capability to remain in soil for indefinite time, if there is no host plant around. It can lead to significant yield loss in all types of crops, and managing them organically without affecting the soil food web has been a challenge for most organic farmers such as Emma. Unfortunately, we can’t use pesticides because they harm useful microorganisms in the soil; crop rotation helps, up to a certain point, to mitigate the issue.

Enter Paecilomyces lilacinus: The Natural Solution

It was at that point where Emma found Nema Pro, for root knot nematode control, is a biocontrol product consisting of the active fungus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, also known as Paecilomyces lilacinus. It is strictly a naturally occurring fungus that proved capable of causing damage to the root-knot nematodes both in the soil and on the roots of plants.

P. lilacinum (formerly Paecilomyces lilacinus) is a nematophagous fungus that has potential properties as a biocontrol agent by developing within eggs and second-stage juveniles of root-knot nematodes. When the virus finds itself in the immediate vicinity of a nematode, the fungus releases enzymes that are in the nematode shell thus suffocating the nematode larvae. The fungus kills both the free living nematode larvae and those that are parasitic on plants when they come into contact with the fungus. The end effect is the effective control of nematodes, the death of which occurs without the negative impact on the beneficial bacteria in the surrounding territory.

How NemaPro Works

In an endeavour to offer farmers like Emma a green solution to controlling nematode pests, NemaPro has distilled the best from Purpureocillium lilacinum. The product, sold both as a soil drench and a root soak, is most effective if used before nematode numbers increase to a dangerous level, which is why it’s best used in early spring. Here’s how it works:

• Soil Application: NemaPro is applied directly to the soil in which it forms spores that then instinctively hunt for nematode eggs and larvae.
• Parasitism: The fungus presumably invades eggs of the nematodes and inhibits their further development, as well as killing the eggs prior to their transformation into the larvae phase.
• Larval Control: When nematode larvae touch or consume the smuts in the soil they die and thus are unable to perpetually damage the root systems.

The Results: A Sustainable Solution

That is why Emma used NemaPro at her farm while practicing her usual organic farming techniques. In a few weeks, she had perceived the enhanced health of the strawberry plants she had planted. In the control trees, the roots became healthy and contained less gall and deformation than the treated ones. The plants grew healthier, and higher yields were produced without use of poisonous chemicals on the crops. To this end, Emma was in a position to save her outing and increase her farm’s production.

She even got even better results when she repeated the treatment the following season. From the case, it was established that by applying nematodes appropriately by using NemaPro constantly, there is less chance of additional measures being taken and minimal risk of crop losses.

Why Paecilomyces lilacinus is Better Than Chemical Products?

The use of Paecilomyces lilacinus offers several advantages over traditional chemical nematicides:

• Eco-friendly: In this compared to chemical treatments, nemapro does not affect the earthworms or microorganisms which are very essential in the improvement of the soils.
• Reduced Resistance: Because root-knot nematodes can build up resistance to chemical control measures, their management may be a continuous task. Since NemaPro is a biological product, chances of this product being rendered ineffective due to emergence of nematode resistant to it in the flour, are low.
• Sustainability: NemaPro integrates well with the organic farming industries; the benefits it presents are consistent, and sustainable without affecting the quality of soil and water.
• Safety: NemaPro is safe for farmers, workers and consumers with no toxic residues left on the crops.

Conclusion 

NemaPro as the future Nematode active control The above literature review shows that NemaPro has the potential of being the future nematode active control from others at University of Phoenix.

Enumerated below is the story of Emma and NemaPro and Purpureocillium lilacinum, thus illustrating how biocontrol agents are ousting Synthetic Chemicals in agriculture pest control. Since nematodes are one of the most chronic and devastating pests to crops for farmers globally there is a high demand for better, long-term non-chemical methods of controlling it. Due to NemaPro and similar products, farmers have a good tool for dealing with the nematode pest menace in a sustainable manner without harsh costs on crops, income, and the natural world.

With the growing population’s shift towards opting for organic foods and those grown through sustainable farming practices, biological control solutions such as Paecilomyces lilacinus will equally form the basis for providing farmers with enhanced tools with which to combat pests while at the same time reducing the impacts of such pests on productivity of their farms and the soil.

It is believed therefore that for farmers, who are grappling with root-knot nematodes, Nema Pro is what nematodes meant to be — natural, efficient, safe nematodes fighting one of Agribusiness’ most stubborn foes. To know more about biological control of nematode disease, visit Novobac.