Advances in Application of Diverse Planting for Controlling Root-knot Nematode Infestation on Vegetables

Root-knot nematodes that cause a major soil-borne disease on vegetables with no effective control means at present pose a significant challenge for the farmers. Application of traditional chemical agents not only leave harmful residues polluting the environment but also raise concern on drug resistance of the pest. Thus, the ecologically well-sounded practice of “planting in diversity” has recently become the focused research for an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. This article summarizes the damage brought about by the infestation, the control measures currently practiced, and various new approaches experimented for overcoming the disease. Diverse models, such as intercropping, companion planting, crop rotation, and cover cropping, have shown promising results with control mechanisms hypothesized from the ecological and molecular biology perspectives. Theories that illustrated possible roles of root exudates, decomposed residues, microbial regulation in soil, and physical-ecological synergies were presented in the literature. Since the field of study is at an exploratory stage, new discoveries and further understanding to usher in an efficient, green, and integrated system for managing the parasitic problem on vegetable farms is expected.