Liam O’Connell here is a farmer living in the rolling plains of Idaho the world’s premier potato farming region. Liam has for many seasons been frustrated by decreasing yields and disparate growth all over the fields. After consulting local agronomists and conducting soil tests, the culprit was clear: Potato cyst nematodes or simply PCN (Globodera spp.) is a covert and chronic pest that had already made its headquarters on his farm.
The Potato Cyst Nematode: A Hidden Threat
This work aims at studying PATO Torylenchus, which is a group of parasitic roundworms which invade the roots of potatoes and result in the formation of cysts that can persist in the soil for several years.
These nematodes inhibit the functions of the plant in taking nutrients and water and thus cause retarded growth, small tuber sizes and more losses. In such states as Idaho where potatoes from the sustenance of many farmers, the rise of PCNs has been regarded as a major issue.
Modern chemical treatments proved quite effective to some extent in Liam’s farm, but the continued use of chemical fertilizers posed serious dangers to the fertility of the soil. As Liam put it: “I wanted something a little more permanent, but also something that wouldn’t adulterate the fields.” That is when he switched to root knot nematode biological control methods, especially the fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum.
What is this species called Purpureocillium lilacinum?
Purpureocillium lilacinum now referred to as Paecilomyces lilacinus is a mycogenic nematicide products that infects nematode eggs, Juveniles and adults. On the other hand it is a well-established method for the control of root knot nematodes but it is effective in managing a broad host of nematodes inclusive of the difficult to manage PCN.
It lives in and on the nematode eggs and dissolves the outer coatings through the enzymes to make the eggs infertile. Of course, Purpureocillium lilacinum does not add chemicals into the soil and instead makes the environment for planting crops healthy for the long run.
Contributions by Nema Pro and Nema ProMax
The agronomist, who takes care of Liam, suggested Nema Pro and Nema ProMax – bio-products containing Purpureocillium lilacinum. Here’s how Liam incorporated these products into his farming practices:
Nema Pro
An injectable microbial mould that is intended to introduce beneficial fungal populations to the area surrounding the roots.
Liam used Nema Pro before planting in preparation of the soil. This allowed for the fungus to be applied at the root of the cyst nematode problem, and for the applied product to be in place as the potatoes themselves began to sprout.
Nema ProMax
This is suitable for mixed nematode control with a high pyramid potency formulation.
That is why Liam testified that he used Nema ProMax for irrigation together with the help of the irrigation system that would provide an even distribution of nematodes, which are also characterized by a rapid colonization. It made the protection to continue throughout the entire growing season.
Application and Results
Liam’s team preconditioned that before using these bio-products, they needed to run some tests to establish nematode densities and intensity. Well, having acquired this information, they moved to attack the more critical areas with the disease as more went for a general scrubbing of the field.
Liam’s application process included:
- Soil conditions before treatment were made to be favorable to the growth of the fungus.
- The factors include, Plant Health Monitoring, and Nematode Population Monitoring.
- Combining it with crop rotation activities and planting of cover crops such as radish that reduce nematode populations.
As for Liam, the change was incredible by the end of season. “My plants were healthier, and the yield was the best I’ve had in years,” he said. They also found through an assessment of nematode samples after the harvest that use of the treatments significantly depressed the PCN population.
Here is the science behind the success..
Further, all research studies reciprocate Liam’s success. Such agricultural research indicates that application of Purpureocillium lilacinum fused with cultural practices such as crop rotation and organic matter decreases nematode numbers. Moreover, products like Nema Pro and Nema ProMax offer a dual benefit: preserving crop yield and reviving the microbial population in soil.
A Sustainable Future
To farmers such as Liam it was not only about saving the crop of a particular season through the use of biological control methods. It is about the production of a world that requires sustainable prosperity for work and nature.
‘The decision of switching to nematicide products was not only the solution for potato cyst nematodes,’ Liam says. ‘It seems it is a step towards farming smarter and greening the sector’.
Many pests such as PCNs and root knot nematodes are now being combated by biological means – and these appear to be very effective. Through advancement such as Nema Pro and Nema ProMax, farmers can be sure that their fields are capable of producing for the next generations.
