Development of non-phytotoxic concentration for Nemafric-BL phytonematicide on sweet potato cultivar ‘Bophelo’ Malatji K. P., Pofu K. M., Mashela P. W.* University of Limpopo, Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Green Biotechnologies Research Centre of Excellence, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, Republic of South Africa *(e-mail: phatu.mashela@ul.ac.za)
Online Published on 20 October, 2023. Abstract Phytonematicides are being used as an alternative to synthetic chemical nematicides for managing population densities of the root-knot (Meloidogyne species) nematodes in the production of crops. However, due to their origin from allelochemicals, phytonematicides have the potential of being phytotoxic and thereby inducing unintended crop losses. The incident is being managed through a computer-based model, which provides the non-phytotoxic concentration that should be applied at each application interval, with inherent attributes of being plant-specific. The objective of this study was to investigate the non-phytotoxic concentration of Nemafric-BL phytonematicide on sweet potato cv. ‘Bophelo’ and associated overall sensitivity (“k) of the cultivar to the product. The trial was initiated during autumn (February-April) 2021 and validated in 2022 in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Geometric concentrations of the product, applied weekly, were randomly assigned with five replications. At 56 days after the treatment, plant variables were collected, prepared, and subjected to the computer-assisted model, with the non-phytotoxic concentration, Mean Concentration Stimulation Point (MCSP), computed at 2.18 % Nemafric-BL for cv. ‘Bophelo’, with (“k) = 0. In conclusion, the application of 2.18 % Nemafric-BL would not induce phytotoxicity to sweet potato cv. ‘Bophelo’. Top Keywords Allelochemicals, CARD model, MCSP, Phytonematicide, Sweet potato, Stimulation point. Top |