Suppression of Root-Knot Nematode Damage to Sweetpotato by Preceding Fall Cropping of Oat Variety 'Tachiibuki'

摘要

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are major pests of sweetpotatoes in Kyushu. These nematodes cause yield loss and cosmetic defects of storage roots. Application of nematicides is costly for less profitable sweetpotato production. Thus it is important to develop cropping systems to reduce nematode densities. However, the present cropping systems using known nematode-suppressive plants (e.g., guinea grass) are not always practical because their suppressive effect mainly occurs in summer cropping, a period important for farm profitability. Consequently, it is necessary to develop an economic cropping system using alternative nematode control agents in non-cropping seasons.