Management of Cyst-Nematode
Cultural practices: Growing non-host crops and following effective crop rotations at least for a year with any non-solanceous vegetable such as beetroots, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, French beans, garlic, radish, turnips etc. during autumn brings down the cysts population to a great extent. Presently, the farmers of Nilgiri follow Potato-Cabbage-Carrot rotations for the management of PCNs. This rotation also helps in maximum utilization of nutrients applied to potato.
Kufri Swarna is a resistant variety to PCN and was released in 1985 and occupies about 40 per cent of potato area in Nilgiris. It performs well even under drought conditions in Nilgiri hills.
Chemicals Management: Systemic pesticides, either aldicarb or carbofuran or phorate @ 2 kg. a.i./ha are being recommended for effective management of PCNs in Nilgiri hills.
Biological management: Of thirteen fungi that are able to infect the cysts, frequency of occurrence was maximum for Dactylaria (31.6%) followed by Aspergillius spp. (14%), Humicola grasea and three other non sporulating fungi in the frequency range of 7.2 to 1.75% in Nilgiris. In vitro parasitization of eggs by these fungi indicated maximum mortality by Dactylaria spp (82.4%) followed by Penicilium spp (80.6%) , Aspergillus spp (68%) and Humicola grisea ( 60%). Other fungi (excepting Fusarium spp) parsitize the eggs of PCN to varying extents. The fungus P. lilacinus an effective bio-agent against nematodes, does not occur in Nilgiris.
Integrated Management: PCN once established in a given locality, cannot be eradicated completely by using any single control method. Therefore, they have to be managed by adopting several strategies together. PCNs are being managed presently by using chemicals (nematicides), adopting suitable crop rotations and utilizing the available sources of resistance in tuber bearing Solanum spp.