Effect of mixed cropping with date palm on associated plant parasitic nematodes in Egypt.
Youssef M. M. A., El-Nagdi W. M. A.
Author Affiliation: Plant Pathology Department, Nematology Laboratory, National Research Centre, Dokki - 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
International Journal of Nematology 19 : 225-228
Abstract : Interplanting of certain vegetable crops (cabbage, tomato and pepper) with date palm cv. Zaghlool significantly (P?0.01, 0.01) enhanced the population density of the root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), the most common nematode on date palm, followed by Helicotylenchus spp. and Xiphinema spp. on field crops in Egypt. Sunflower and soybean also increased root-knot nematode on date palm. Mango trees decreased the populations of these nematodes on date palm. No root knot nematode was found on date palm when interplanted with citrus. Hence, it is advised to cultivate the less susceptible or non hosts as mixed crops with date palm.