Nematicidal efficacy of new Abamectin-based products used alone and in combination with Indolebutyric acid against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne Incognita

Abamectin has been proven to be effective in controlling root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). In vitro and pot experiments were conducted to test the effects of Tervigo and two new abamectin-based products (CHA 2061-02 EW and CHA 2080 SC), emulsion-water (EW) and liquid suspension-concentrate (SC) formulations, at different doses on M.incognita. The activity of the EW abamectin formulations were tested alone and in combination with indolebutyric acid® (IBA), to assess the effect of the products applied as a soil drench to tomato planted in sterilized and naturally nematode-infested soils. In vitro, both Tervigo and CHA 2061-02 EW products mainly showed a nematostatic activity against second-stage juveniles (J2s) of M. incognita. For the most part, J2s that were immobilized following exposure to these products, after rinsing and transfer to water resumed mobility over time. Both formulations were also effective in vivo for the control of M. incognita-infested tomato plants. No visual symptoms of phytotoxicity were detected for either of the products. Root applications of CHA 2061-02 EW plus the addition of IBA improved overall plant growth, but not nematode control. Results demonstrated that both abamectin formulations have the potential for nematode control in tomato production. Additionally, the combination with IBA could be useful to enhance plant growth, in short-term production cycles or when nematode population densities are relatively low. Tested Abamectin-based products may be used for M. incognita management programs.