Bio-fertilizer Effects on Plant-parasitic Nematodes
Taufiq Nawaz, Muhammad Junaid, Mehwish Kanwal, Saeed Ahmed, Nazeer Ahmed, Rafi Ullah, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Saeed, Muhammad Romman, Shah Fahad, Maid Zaman, Muhammad Haroon, Muhammad Shahab, Shah Saud, Shah Hassan
Abstract
Plant nematodes are one of the biggest obstacles to diversified crop production worldwide, and are responsible for huge economic and ecological losses. Their attacks drastically reduce the amount of fruit, minimizing the yield of cultivated crops. New biological strategies are the urgency of the day to minimize the use of chemical nematicides because chemical nematicides have harmful effects on human health and the environment. Due to their rapid evolution, more biological control products are being sold worldwide. Among various biological control agents, microorganism-based (fungi and bacteria) bio-fertilizers have become an alternative option for controlling plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), since they are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Among the various modes of biological control, microorganisms, such as nematophagous ones, play a vital role in the control of nematode because they behave as natural enemies of nematodes. Several produce net-like materials and catch the worms by trapping them from the outside and eventually killing them. On the other hand, some parasites excrete toxins and virulence to eliminate nematodes due to internal parasitic activities. Understanding the molecular basis of related nematode microbes provides a significant understanding of how nematode control can be implemented through successful biological methods. This chapter is focused on the use and effectiveness of bio-fertilizers to control PPNs and reduce their damage to crop plants. Moreover, the roles of various fungi and bacteria in controlling PPNs are discussed in detail.