Effect of Fluensulfone on Meloidogyne incognita in onion crop.

Abstract

Onion is a plant widely cultivated in the world, only behind potato and tomato. Mexico produces 1,487,102 t in an area of ​​47,952 ha. In this study, the nematode associated with onion cv. Cirrus was identified morphologically and molecularly, and the effect of fluensulfone (1.75, 2 and 2.25 L ha^-1) and fenamiphos (7 L ha^-1) on the nematode population and crop damage were evaluated. The species associated with onion plants was Meloidogyne incognita. The preventive application of fluensulfone decreased the negative effect of M. incognita on onion yield, providing a good control on the nematode population higher the fenamiphos. At 60 days after sowing (das), Fluensulfone (2 and 2.25 L ha^-1) reduced the population and damage caused by M. incognita by 76-78 % and 72-80 % respectively compared with the untreated plants. At 90 das, root galling was less than 15 %. Plants treated with fluensulfone (2.25 L ha^-1) and fenamiphos increased the production of commercial bulbs up to 14 % compared with untreated plants. Therefore, the application of fluensulfone for the management of M. incognita in onion crop is recommended, as part of an integrated management plan of root-knot nematodes.