Effects of the grapefruit wastes and sesame oil cake to control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on tomato plants

In this study, the effects of dry grapefruit waste at levels of 3,5 and 7% (w/w) and sesame oil cake at 0.5, 1 and 1.5% (w/w) to control of the root knot-nematode Meloidogyne javanica within tomato roots in sterilized and non-sterilized soils were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Also, C:N ratio, roots total phenolic content, chlorophyll and growth factors of host plant were evaluated. The results showed that treatments of 7% grapefruit wastes and 1.5% sesame oil cake, in non-sterilized soil reduced the final nematode population by 54.5% and 83%, respectively. Increasing the percentage of wastes improved the growth indices of infected plants. The highest increases were in 7% grapefruit waste and 1.5% sesame oil cake in non-sterilized soil, and the lowest was in control and sterilized soil. The C:N ratio in treatments of 7% grapefruit wastes and 1.5% sesame oil cake in non-sterilized soil was 8.06 and 10.17, respectively. In comparison to the control, the amounts of total root phenol and leaf chlorophyll of nematode infected tomato increased. In the laboratory trial, the lowest survival rate of the nematode second juveniles occurred in treatment of 7% grapefruit wastes by 3.58% and in 1.5% sesame oil cake during 72 hours by 44.42% after 72 hourse. Inaddition, the lowest egg hatching rates after four days were 4.62% and 13.88% for these treatments, respectively.