Effect of elemental sulfur on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, activities in cucumber plants

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are one of the main pests of cucumber production in greenhouses and farms. Applications of chemical and organic fertilizers are effective in reducing the damages caused by these nematodes. For this purpose, during 2013-2014, in an experiment, effects of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of elemental sulfur at planting time and 45 days before planting, in sterilized and non-sterilized soil were studied in two turns in greenhouse. First, two eggs or second stage juveniles of the nematode/g of soil and sulfur levels were mixed with the soil. Then cucumber seeds cv. Negin were sown immediately in the half of the pots and in the other half after 45 days. In order to evaluate the effect of sulfur evaporates on the initial nematode population, one half of 45 days pots were placed in plastic bags. The results of two trails showed that sulfur 50 mg/kg of soil in 45 days pots, filled with non-sterilized soil and placed inside plastic bags caused 36% increase in the shoot dry weight and 114% in the yield, on average. In addition, sulfur 100 mg/kg of soil caused 70% and 69% decreases in the final population and reproduction factor of the nematode, respectively.