🦠 Biological Control

Biological control uses living antagonists to suppress plant-parasitic nematodes and reduce dependence on chemicals. This lesson covers major biological agents and places them in broader management context.

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Biological Control Concepts

Biological control relies on predators, parasites, and antagonistic microbes that attack nematodes or disrupt their life cycle.

Successful use depends on ecological compatibility, inoculum establishment, and integration with cultural practices.

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Predacious and Parasitic Fungi

Predacious fungi can capture nematodes using trapping structures, while other fungi infect eggs or females. These interactions reduce survival and reproductive potential in soil.

Field performance varies with soil conditions, host crop, and moisture regime.

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Chemical Control: Context and Limits

Nematicides can provide rapid suppression but involve cost, safety, and environmental constraints. Their role is usually optimized when combined with biological and cultural methods.

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Resistant Varieties and Integration

Host resistance is a practical long-term tool and complements both biocontrol and cultural measures.

Integrated use improves stability and helps avoid over-reliance on any single tactic.

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Summary Cheat Sheet

Topic	Key Point
Biocontrol basis	Use antagonists against nematodes
Key agents	Predacious and parasitic fungi among major options
Field variability	Strongly influenced by environment and management
Chemical role	Useful but should be integrated, not isolated
Resistance role	Durable pillar in integrated programs

Exam focus: mechanism of fungal biocontrol and integration with chemical and resistance strategies.

References

1 source • [1]

[1]

Biological control of plant parasitic nematodes notes (PATH172)

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