Evaluation of nano-chelated silicon fertilizer in the management of Meloidogyne javanica in tomato

The root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most dangerous herbal parasites which destroy 8.8–14.6% of agricultural products annually. The objective of this study was to assess in vitro the effects of pre- and post-treatment of the M. javanica-inoculated tomato plants by different concentrations of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (nSiO2) and nano-chelated silicon fertilizer (NCSF) through the two methods of application viz. foliar spraying at the rate of 10, 30 and 300 mg/plant and soil drenching at the rate of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/pot. The results showed that soil drenching and foliar spraying of NCSF significantly reduced the nematode population indices as compared to control. The reproduction factor of nematode in pre- and post-treated plants with NCSF as foliar sprays at the rate of 300 mg/plant reduced by 26 and 27% and as soil drenches at the rate of 1000 mg/plant reduced by 66 and 44 percent, and in the case of nSiO2, foliar sprays at the rate of 300 mg/plant reduced by 13 and 15% and as soil drenches at the rate of 1000 mg/plant reduced by 50 and 27% respectively, as compared to control. Hence, application of this fertilizer as a safe and effective pest control fertilizer for prevention and reduction of the losses caused by M. javanica is recommended for greenhouse cultivation of tomato.