Effect of three nematicidal soil treatments on the growth of tobacco plants

Abstract

Soil applications of either 1,3 dichloropropene 1,2 dichloropropane (D-D) or granular Phenamiphos in field experiments to control the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitwood have always induced remarkable yield increases, as compared with untreated or plots treated with other chemicals, on different row or vegetable crops in Southern Italy (Lamberti, 1973). Beneficial effects were also noticed when these chemicals were applied in lightly infested soils of when no evidence of plant parasitic nematodes were found on the roots of control plants (Lamberti, unpublished ). The stimulating action of D-D on plant growth has been shown by others who attributed it to increased nitrogen made available by the microbial activity taking place after chemical application (Cooke and Draycott, 1971). Little is known on the effect of Phenamiphos on growth of tobacco plants. These investigations were initiated to study the influence of this chemical on plant growth compared with the effects of D-D and steam sterilization.