Nematodes

Little known, these small parasites are present in various types of crops and also on animals. Nematodes attack the root system of plants, slowing down their development and in extreme cases causing their death.

The use of pesticides is useful as is changing the substrate.

Among the Nematodes there are also species which, on the contrary, are beneficial and establish a symbiotic relationship with the plant.

Nematodes are worms that resemble tapeworms. They are often called round worms.

There are approximately 25,000 species of nematodes, half of which are parasitic, of plants and animals. The size of Nematodes can vary greatly, ranging in length from 0.2 mm to up to 8 metres!

In most cases they measure around 2.5mm and are therefore not easy to spot with the naked eye. They feed on bacteria, fungi and other organisms present in the soil. They can be excellent allies by acting as antagonistic parasites for species such as Trip and Larvae.

The most harmful nematodes for our plants are those that attack the roots, causing them to swell or cause atrophy and consequently the plant's ability to absorb nutrients and develop correctly. They can even cause plants to die and otherwise damage production. As a result of attack by nematodes, the leaves of the plants rot, this at first glance could be interpreted as a problem of deficiencies or excesses of nutrients. Unlike other parasites, even if they live underground, Nematodes are more difficult to diagnose and eliminate.

Among all the Nematodes there is a species that instead of attacking the roots affects the stem, the consequences of these parasites are visible in the stem, branches and petioles which swell and show signs of chlorosis (yellowing) and then twist and deform.

PREVENTION:

To protect yourself from these parasites, prevention is important, the use of pesticides and fungicides.

Neem oil , a universal remedy, mixed with the substrate helps eliminate the problem.

Another possibility is to use bacteria such as Pasteuria Penetrans which prevents worms from developing as well as generating ferments which destroy the eggs or kill the larvae.

INTERVENTION:

If the nematode problem is already present in the roots, it will be necessary to replace the substrate and start from scratch.

Nematodes live in the thin films of water found in the soil, therefore stagnation of water, which is the means of movement, must always be avoided, as is moving the soil.

Friendly Nematodes

As mentioned above, there are also species of Nematodes that have a beneficial effect on plants and that fight parasites by acting as antagonistic insects.

One of the "Good" Nematodes is Steinernema feltiae, excellent for fighting the substrate fly.