Protection methods

Many of the methods proposed to control Meloidogyne spp. can also be used in the case of many other nematodes and in particular Pratylenchus spp. ; you can consult the link Methods of protection of Meloidogyne spp. .


- During cultivation

No method of struggle to control, during cultivation , attacks of Pratylenchus spp. on salad.

If damage occurs in the nursery, the affected plants should be removed . Otherwise, planting them in the field will help ensure the spread of nematodes and the contamination of healthy soils.

The tools used to tillage plots contaminated should be thoroughly cleaned before use in other healthy plots. It is the same for the wheels of tractors. Thorough water rinsing of all material will often be sufficient to rid it of soil and nematodes contaminating it.

At the end of the crop, it will be imperative that the root systems of the lettuce be removed from the plot and eliminated , to avoid enriching the soil with nematodes.


- Next crop

To be effective, the fight against migratory endoparasitic nematodes, as for root-knot nematodes, must involve, in a complementary manner, all of the control methods proposed below.

The crop rotation should be chosen wisely, given the many potential hosts of these nematodes. Often they only have a very limited effect. As examples, here are some cultivated plants which are likely to harbor these Pratylenchus spp. : potato, many vegetables, sweet potato, sorghum, oats, sunflower, rice, corn, fruit species and several weeds. Spinach, beets and cucurbits are said to be relatively tolerant to Pratylenchus penetrans, while onions appear to be extremely sensitive. Winter fallows would reduce soil nematode population levels.

It will be essential to produce healthy plants . They will preferably be produced on tablets and in a disinfected substrate. They can be placed on the ground provided that the latter is covered with a clean plastic mulch and not torn. If you have any doubts about the quality of the soil in your nursery, it will need to be disinfected. Several nematicidal products can be used; they are mentioned in the sheet dealing with methods of protection of Meloidogyne spp. (see link above).

In countries where there is a sunshine, lot of solar disinfection of the soil ( solarization ) may be considered, in particular to clean up the plots at a lower cost. This technique is also detailed in the sheet on methods of protection of Meloidogyne spp ..

The resistance of lettuce to Pratylenchus spp. does not seem to have been worked .


NB: As legislation on pesticides evolves very quickly, we advise you to consult the e-phy site of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries which is an online catalog of plant protection products and their uses, fertilizers and culture media approved in France . This also applies to all biological products based on microorganisms or natural substances.