Mixtures of fluopyram and abamectin for management of Meloidogyne incognita in tomato

The southern root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita, causes significant damage to vegetable production and is a major problem in greenhouse tomatoes. The effect of a combination of fluopyram and abamectin, at a mass ratio of 1:5, was studied for RKN control. Pot trials showed that fluopyram, abamectin, and their combination at three dosages increased the height, stem diameter, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, and the root length of tomato plants. The RKN control efficacy of the 1:5 combination at 450 g a.i./ha was 74.06% at 30 days after transplanting (DAT), and the control efficacy of the combination at 337.5 and 450 g a.i./ha differed significantly from those of other treatments at 60 DAT. The root-galling index (RGI) control efficacy of the combination at 450 g a.i./ha and of fluopyram (41.7% SC) only at 450 g a.i./ha were better than the control efficacies of other treatments, and these two treatments significantly increased root activity. Field trial results showed that the soil nematode control efficacy was similar to that of the pot trials at 30 and 60 DAT. The RGI control efficacy of the combination at 337.5 and 450 g a.i./ha and of fluopyram (41.7% SC) only at 450 g a.i./ha differed significantly from those of the two other treatments. The tomato yields of the 1:5 combination at 450 g a.i./ha were increased by 24.07 and 23.22% compared to the control in field trials during two successive years. The combination of fluopyram and abamectin provides good nematode measure, and it can increase tomato yields. It provides an effective solution for the integrated management of southern RKN.