Files and links (1)
Open Access CC BY-NC-ND V4.0
Journal article
Biological Products Precondition Field Soil and Induce Changes in Bacterial Communities to Reduce Root-Knot Nematode Symptoms in Tomato Crops
Plant pathology, Vol.75(5), 70266
2026
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp., RKNs) cause significant yield losses in tomato crops and current chemical control methods have limitations. For example, the use of nematicides have associated safety concerns for both environmental and human health. Some biological products are promising sustainable alternatives to chemicals. The present study investigated whether field application of selected biological products could precondition the soil, altering bacterial communities, which in turn could reduce Meloidogyne javanica infestation of tomatoes in the greenhouse. Soil was collected from a tomato field site where commercially available biological products, Popul8 (microbial), Eco-Humate (organic acid) and Eco-Vital (fish + seaweed), were applied throughout the growing season. Tomato cv. Moneymaker seedlings were transplanted into free-draining plastic pots filled with 80:20 (v:v) field soil:river sand and inoculated with viable M. javanica eggs (similar to 10,000/pot). At 11 weeks post-inoculation, the roots were washed free of soil and scored for RKN-induced galling and egg counts. Rhizosphere soil and root samples were then sequenced to identify bacterial communities. Tomato plants grown in preconditioned field soil had significant reductions in RKN galling (31.8% [microbial], 26.3% [fish + seaweed] and 25.4% [organic acid]) compared to untreated control soil. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed significant differences in bacterial community composition between the plants grown in preconditioned soil and the controls. These findings suggest that the biological products created a potential legacy effect that contributed to RKN suppression and highlight the potential of the products for integrated management of RKNs, and the need for further investigation in replicated field trials.
Details
- Title
- Biological Products Precondition Field Soil and Induce Changes in Bacterial Communities to Reduce Root-Knot Nematode Symptoms in Tomato Crops
- Authors/Creators
- Onyemaechi H. Obiazikwor - Murdoch UniversityAnish S. Shah - Murdoch UniversityGiles E. St. J. Hardy - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and SustainabilitySarah J. Collins - Dept Primary Ind & Reg Dev, Perth, WA, AustraliaKirsty L. Bayliss - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Plant pathology, Vol.75(5), 70266
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Society for Plant Pathology.
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- AS19004 / Hort Innovation
- Identifiers
- 991005917859807891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Biosecurity and One Health; Centre for Crop and Food Innovation; Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Agricultural Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
Metrics
22 File views/ downloads
4 Record Views