Over the last few years cucumber farmers have had their yields reduced due to new pest that come disguised as root-knot nematodes. The life forms enter the cucumber roots and create galls that hinder the plant from receiving both water and nutrients and nutrients including:; stunted growths, constant wilting and low production. Chemical nematicides have been found to affect soil health, the environment and the consumers hence farmers are now opting for biological nematicides.
One such organic weapon getting popular is Purpureocillium lilacinum, a soil-inhabitant fungus famed for its nematicide features. This strong fungus is contained in our leading agricultural products Nema ProMax and Nema Pro to give cucumber growers an efficient, organic and environmentally friendly means of controlling nematodes.
Growing threat to cucumber crops by nematodes
Cucumber business is very profitable for growers globally since the crop’s market has significantly grown for fresh market and pickling activities. Nevertheless, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) have turned out to be a big menace to cucumber production. Apart from affecting the crop, these pests affect soil health in a way that poses huge future challenges to farmers.
Nematodes are a common pest problem for cucumber growers and while many growers have relied on chemical solutions for nematode control, these approaches are no longer sustainable. Conventional chemical nematicides are toxic, have negative impacts on beneficial soil organisms and reduce soil health, have hazardous residual effects posing incompatability with food safety and the environment. With the world being pressured to decrease the use of such chemicals, farmers have embraced Bio control and one of the most effective bio control agents is Purpureocillium lilacinum.
What is the cause of Purpureocillium lilacinum?
Neonate and third stage juveniles of Heterorhabditis and Steinernematids are susceptible to P. lilacinum sensu lato formerly known as P. lilacinus, a parasitic myco fungal pathogen that harms nematodes but benefits the host. As a result of the mechanism of its action, it is extremely effective in long-term control.
How It Works:
Purpureocillium lilacinum infects nematode eggs via enzymes that degrade its external coating hence inhibiting the hatching of the juveniles. This chokes nematode activities before they can penetrate on the roots of cucumber. Besides, it migrates into the root zone establishing a layer of fungus that prevents nematode mobility.
Benefits for Farmers:
- Available to support the healthy population of soil beneficial bacteria and fungi.
- Enhances the sustenance of a healthy population of soil microbial population and diversity hence helping in management of soil.
- For organic farming and approved for treatment with no residues on the plants or fruits.
Being at the cutting edge of innovative bio-nematicide formulations as are Nema ProMax and Nema Pro, this active ingredient is now altering nematicide use patterns across large tracts of the earth’s surface.
Nema ProMax: Fast-Acting Nematode Control
When cucumber growers desire an immediate control of root-knot nematodes, then Nema ProMax is a liquid formulation with Purpureocillium lilacinum that is highly effective in its functioning.
Features and Benefits:
- Controls nematode pests effectively and effectively is used in cucumber fields where the level of infestation is high.
- Immediate response helps reduce further deterioration of cucumber roots, thus, strong plant health and bigger yields are achieved.
- Drip irrigation friendly as it has been developed in ease to allow direct application particularly through drip irrigation.
Bionematicide: Nema ProMax is perfect for growers empowering them to manage a substantial nematode challenge early in the growing season to safeguard cucurbit plants when they are particularly vulnerable.
Nema Pro: Long Term Conservation and Utilization of Soil
As a result of enduring control and improvements in soil quality, growers rely on another potent bio-nematicide engineered with Purpureocillium lilacinum known as Nema Pro.
Features and Benefits:
- Aids in the establishment of proper population and species of soil fauna, so as to sustain the nematode-suppressive feature for subsequent growing and planting seasons.
- Cures cucumber plants throughout their life cycle by preventing nematode reproduction within the root area.
- Through formation of a barrier in the soil through microbes, Nema Pro guarantees that nematodes do not reproduce and become problematic all year.
Nematodes and Their Rational Eradication
Purpureocillium lilacinum is quickly gaining popularity, and many specialists are delighted with the fact that such an additive is used in agriculture on a large scale and is considered a progressive step. tomato diseases are expected to be a big concern in the future as a soil biologist specializing in nematode management, Dr. Ayesha Khan concludes.
Pest management’s ultimate advancement to green solutions is well exemplified by Nema ProMax, and Nema Pro. Henceforth, through the use of biological advantage of Purpureocillium lilacinum, farmers can conquer the menace of root-knot nematodes without compromise on the future esteem of their soils.
Farmers in different parts of the world have also benefited from these products already. Cucumber farmer Raj Mehra from India, who experienced devastating nematode losses last season, shared his experience:
If Nema ProMax wasn’t introduced to him he was losing more than thirty percent of his yield to nematodes each year and chemical controls were ineffective. With it my plants came back to life and I was able to get a full yield. With Nema Pro, I’m guaranteeing improved yields every season,” he pointed out.
How to Use Nema ProMax and Nema Pro for Best Results
Application Timing: Use Nema ProMax before 30 days after planting, during times of the year when nematodes are most active. This guarantees faster control.
- Dosage: It should be used precisely as prescribed on the packaging or included instructions.
- Integration with IPM: Practice it together with cultural practices such as crop rotation, using organic amendments and soil solarization to help minimize nematode loads.
- Regular Soil Monitoring: Make some soil tests and check the number of nematodes occasionally to know the right time to apply Nema Pro regularly for its protective effects.
Organization of the papers presented at the Symposium supported the conclusion that the future of nematode management is biological.
Since again the discovery of Purpureocillium lilacinum as a potent nematicide proved that farmers do not need to further compromise the quality of the soil and detrimental sustainability to fight pests. The Future of Cucumber production is already here through products such as Nema ProMax and nematodes organic pest control, Nema Pro.
Since residue-free and sustainably grown food is the new trend customers can’t afford not to, biological solutions like these are not a luxury—they’re a necessity. It is clear for cucumber producers who want to receive higher yield and develop good ground during the following years that the answer is in the Purpureocillium lilacinum.
