Sugar Beet Soaking Seeds to Combat Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood, 1949 (Under Field Condition)

Mohamed El-Nasharty Abdel-Aal El-Nasharty1* and Hossam Mohamed El-Sharnoby2

1Department of Sugar Crops Pests and Disease, Sugar Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt; 2Department of Plant Physiology and Chemistry, Sugar Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

Received | January 25, 2025; Accepted | February 17, 2025; Published | March 26, 2025

*Correspondence | Mohamed E.A. El-Nasharty, Department of Sugar Crops Pests and Disease, Sugar Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt; Email: mooo_arc@hotmail.com

Citation | El-Nasharty, M.E.A. and H.M. El-Sharnoby. 2025. Sugar beet soaking seeds to combat root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood, 1949 (under field condition). Pakistan Journal of Nematology, 43(1): 32-40.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjn/2025/43.1.32.40

Keywords | Beta vulgaris L., Meloidogyne javanica, Nematicides, germination, seed treatment, productivity

Copyright: 2025 by the author. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Introduction

The most strategically significant crop in the broad order Caryophyllales is the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), which accounts for about 35% of the world’s sugar production (Harveson et al., 2009). This is Egypt’s most significant sugar crop. The sugar beet planted area is 235,200 hectares (560,000 feddans), a 5.7% decrease from 249,480 hectares (594,000 feddans) in the previous growing season, according to the Sugar Crops Export Council of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture’s MY2024/25 estimate (Global Agricultural Information Network, 2024). Root-knot nematodes, also known as Meloidogyne spp., are significant plant parasites that cause significant damage to sugar beet crops. They significantly affect agricultural productivity and plant physiology (Forghani and Hajihassani, 2020). Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, is a major pest that flourishes in warm, temperate, tropical, and subtropical temperatures all throughout the world. They are expected to cause yield losses of 5% on average worldwide, with losses being much higher in developing countries (Taylor et al., 1982). In Egypt, they subsequently cause the roots and sugar yields of sugar beet in the West Nubariya region to decline, potentially reaching 50.8 and 68.4%, respectively. According to Gohar (2003), this is thought to be the largest obstacle to the spread of sugar beet in Egypt’s new areas. Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita are also widely distributed and can drastically lower the production and quality of the sugar beet crop (Gohar and Maareg, 2005). Nematicides seed treatment considered a promising approach for reducing the density of M. javanica up to the fourth week (28 DAS), despite the fact that the nematode population decreased gradually after 21 DAS and then abruptly towards mid-season. Additionally, it generated the lowest values for the gall index and reproduction factor (Gohar et al., 2014). Nematicides must be used for nematode control when conventional methods, including bio-agents, are insufficient to shield crops from these pests (Hague and Gowen, 1987). Effective control of M. javanica has been demonstrated by products based on fluopyram and abamectin (Desaeger and Watson, 2019; Alcebíades et al., 2019). Using treated seed instead of soil can significantly reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 88%, and instead of foliar application by 99.4% (Frye, 2009). Therefore, it is considered one of the environmentally acceptable ways to control nematodes that cause knotting in roots. Chemical seed treatment reduces the likelihood of undesired chemical pesticide accumulation because it only affects the soil photospheres surrounding the root systems of young plants. Furthermore, seed treatment is simpler to administer than liquid or granular formulations, especially in areas with low labor costs and soil-integrated nematodes. Despite, the fact that chemical nematicides are preferred for their control, their overuse and extended use have directly killed fish, people, pollinators, and predators. It has also had negative effects on soil health and the ecosystem, as well as reduced productivity, fertility, and product pesticide residues. Researchers focused on new methods and new agents for nematode-managing programs on sugar beet productivity because of the difficulties in applying nematicides. In order to prevent the root-knot nematode, M. javanica, from infecting sugar beet, this study intends to assess the efficacy of specific nematicides as seed application techniques. The study will also investigate how these treatments affect the impacted plants’ growth and quality. Additionally, compared to soil application, the dosages of the tested nematicides needed to treat a single seed are lower, which reduces expenses and adverse effects on beneficial microorganisms.

Materials and Methods

Trials design

In this study, four chemical nematicides were used: Tervigo 2% SC, NemaKick 30% SL, Velum Prime 40% SC, and Smart-N 40% EC. These products have been used as recommended nematicides against plant parasitic nematodes and a number of other soil-borne insects because they have a nematicidal effect. Beta vulgaris saccharifera L., cv. (Pleno), a polygerm variety acquired from the Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Sugar Crops Research Institute (SCRI), Giza, Egypt, was separated and split into three groups. The experimental treatments consist of 100 g of seeds per group. The tested commercial nematicides were diluted to 250, 500, and 1000 ppm. According to Gohar et al. (2014), the seeds were gently cleaned with tap water, allowed to dry on paper in the open air, and then soaked into the experimental doses separately for 90 seconds. For 30 minutes, each group of treated seeds was placed on filter paper and allowed to dry in the sun; the unsoaked seeds were soaked in tap water and allowed to dry as well. Three replicates of a randomized complete block design were planted in Nubaryia region of Beheira Governorate, Egypt, following the drying of all treated seeds by hand planter at November 17th (2022-2023) and November 22th (2023-2024) seasons . The treated seeds were cultivated by the hand planter at the November 17th (2022-2023) and November 22th (2023-2024) seasons in lines 50 cm wide and 15 cm between each plant. The experimental unit area (plot) was 300 m2 (15 m in length and 20 m in width). The experiment’s field soil was a mixture of clay and sand that naturally infested with M. javanica. M. javanica’s initial population (Pi) at planting in the first and second seasons was 850 and 750 juveniles/250 g soil, respectively. As recommended by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, 200 kg of P2O5 were applied to the soil at a rate of 15.5% per feddan to prepare it for the experiments, which were conducted in a private farm under furrow irrigation. Each feddan received two equal doses of 120 kg K2O 50% and 400 kg ammonium nitrate (33.5%) as part of the nitrogen fertigation.

Feddan = a unit of land area equal to 4200.83 m2 (0.42 hectare).

Nematicides definition

The main and most important data for the tested nematicides is displayed in Table 1.

Standard germination test

The treated and unsoaked sugar beet seeds were placed in seed-raising trays with an organic material mixture (sand and peat moss 1:2) at a depth of 2 cm. Every block of 120 seeds was randomly assigned to three replicates in a greenhouse with daily watering (25±2 oC and 65±5 RH). We measured the percentages of germination 10, 15, and 20 days after seeding. According to the International Seed Testing Association’s (1993, 1996) seedling classification handbook, germination was measured as the proportion of seeds that produced normal seedlings.

Nematode and yield parameters

Data was collected 220 days after the planting date. In accordance with Taylor and Sasser’s (1978) description, the number of juveniles (J2) in 250 g/soil and the gall index (GI) were measured using a scale of 0-5 and host efficiency (reproduction factor) was calculated according to Oostenbrink (1966) by Equation.

The decrease in nematode parameters and the rise in plant characteristics were used to assess how the tested nematicides affected seed germination and plant characteristics and germination percentage were computed using Equation.

Sugar beet yield parameters, including sugar yield (gross sugar yield), root yield, and top yield, were identified. Gross sugar (sucrose%) was computed using the data from Abdel-Motagally and Attia (2009).

Gross sugar yield = Root yield × Gross sugar (sucrose %)

Analytical statistics

Statistical analysis was conducted using Mstat software (MSTAT Version 4, 1987), and the mean numbers were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test at the p ≤ 0.05 level of probability.

Results and Discussion

This study aims to investigate the effects of using nematicides to treat seeds as an alternative method to direct soil application. As long as chemical nematicides do not affect seed vitality, we can prevent their detrimental effects on the soil ecosystem in this way. Where, treated seed can minimize chemical consumption by 99.4% compared to aerial applications and 88% compared to banded in-furrow treatments (Frye, 2009). As a result, it is regarded as one of the environmentally acceptable methods of controlling sugar beet root-knot nematodes. However, because seed treatment uses less chemical input than large-scale field nematicide sprays, it is a more appealing option for controlling nematodes. This reduces the impact on the environment and the cost of investment. Because chemical seed treatment only works in the soil rhizospheres that surround young plants’ root systems, it lowers the possibility of undesirable buildup. Furthermore, compared to using liquid or granular formulations as a drench or mixed into the soil, less active ingredient is required to treat one seed.

Germination experiments

In comparison to the unsoaked seeds, the germination percentages were significantly impacted by the various dilutions of the tested nematicides over the various check periods. In this regard, Figure 1 shows how NemaKick affects the germination percentages at 250, 500, and 1000 ppm after 20 days of sowing, which are 98, 95, and 90% in that order. The percentage of germination slightly declines as the concentration rises. Figure 2 shows how the germination percentage is affected by the various Tervigo dilutions. Comparing the various Tervigo dilutions to the unsoaked seeds, which were 98, 98, and 97% in order, with 250, 500, and 1000 ppm after 20 days from sowing, the germination percentages were not substantially impacted. The impact that Smart-N has on seed germination is evident in Figure 3.

 

 

 

 

Germination percentages remained unchanged at 250 and 500 ppm. When compared to the unsoaked seeds at 1000 ppm, the impacted seeds showed successive increases of 98, 98, and 90% after 20 days of sowing. Figure 4 illustrates how Velum Prime affects the percentage of sugar beet seeds that germinate. At 250 and 500 ppm, there was no change in the germination percentages. although less frequently than the prior nematicide at the same 1000 ppm concentration when compared to unsoaked seeds sequentially, with 98, 98, and 95% after 20 days of sowing. Because only one sugar beet polygerm variety (pleno) was used in this study, differences in germination parameters can be attributed to different treatments, such as nematicides and exposure times. Therefore, the tested nematicides seed treatment are primarily responsible for the variation in germination parameters. The results after 21 days of germination indicate that soaking times and nematicide type can be blamed for variations in germination seed parameters. The germination percentage rose with the number of days after sowing; after 21 DAS, the highest seed germination rate was observed (Gohar et al., 2014). When compared to unsoaked seeds, the tested nematicides generally have a transient effect on the germs, which may be the reason for the delay in germination in the treated seeds (El-Marzoky et al., 2022).

Nematicides’ effects on nematode parameters

According to the data in Table 2, the tested nematicides had a noticeable beneficial impact on the nematode population. Velum Prime and NemaKick reduced the nematode population (Pf) to the lowest levels (950.0, 1000.0, and 750.0, 800.0 Larve/250 g soil at 1000 ppm). The reductions in the first and second seasons were 50.0, 47.4%, and 58.3, 55.6%, respectively,

 

Table 1: Identification of the tested nematicides.

Trade name	Active ingredient	Functional group	Mode of action (MoA)	Company
NemaKick	Imicyafos 30% SL	Organophosphates	Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors	AGRO-KANESHO CO., LTD.
Tervigo	Abamectin 2% SC	Avermectins (Streptomyces avermitilis)	Glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) allosteric modulators	Syngenta
Smart - N	Ethoprophos 40% EC	Organophosphates	Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors	Shoura Chemicals
Velum Prime	Fluopyram 40% SC (Pyridinylethylbenzamide)	Insecticide (25) Fungicide (7)	Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors	Bayer (Pty) Ltd / (Edms) Bpk

 

Table 2: Effect of the tested nematicides on the number of juveniles (J2)/250 g soil during 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Nema-ticide	Season 2022/23							Season 2023/24
	250 ppm	Red. %	500 ppm	Red. %	1000 ppm	Red. %	Mean	250 ppm	Red. %	500 ppm	Red. %	1000 ppm	Red. %	Mean
Nema-Kick	1700.0	12.8	1350.0	32.5	1000.0	47.4	1350.0	1700.0	8.1	1200.0	33.3	800.0	55.6	1233.3
Tervigo	1880.0	3.6	1550.0	22.5	1200.0	36.8	1543.3	1750.0	5.4	1450.0	19.4	1000	44.4	1400.0
Smart - N	1700.0	12.8	1400.0	30.0	1150.0	39.5	1416.7	1600.0	13.5	1300.0	27.8	950.0	47.2	1283.3
Velum Prime	1650.0	15.4	1200.0	40.0	950.0	50.0	1266.7	1500.0	18.9	1100.0	38.9	750.0	58.3	1116.7
Un-treated	1950.0	0.0	2000.0	0.0	1900.0	0.0	1950.0	1850.0	0.0	1800.0	0.0	1800	0.0	1816.7
Mean	1776.0	11.2	1500.0	31.3	1240.0	43.4	1505.3	1680.0	11.5	1370.0	29.9	1060	51.4	1370.0
LSD0.05	119.84						92.82	139.66						108.18

 

Table 3: Effect of the tested nematicides on M. javanica host efficiency during 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Nematicide	Season 2022/23							Season 2023/24
	250 ppm	Red. %	500 ppm	Red. %	1000 ppm	Red. %	Mean	250 ppm	Red. %	500 ppm	Red. %	1000 ppm	Red. %	Mean
NemaKick	2.0	12.8	1.6	32.5	1.2	47.4	1.6	2.3	8.1	1.6	33.3	1.1	55.6	1.6
Tervigo	2.2	3.6	1.8	22.5	1.4	36.8	1.8	2.3	5.4	1.9	19.4	1.3	44.4	1.9
Smart - N	2.0	12.8	1.6	30.0	1.4	39.5	1.7	2.1	13.5	1.7	27.8	1.3	47.2	1.7
Velum Prime	1.9	15.4	1.4	40.0	1.1	50.0	1.5	2.0	18.9	1.5	38.9	1.0	58.3	1.5
Untreated	2.3	0.0	2.4	0.0	2.2	0.0	2.3	2.5	0.0	2.4	0.0	2.4	0.0	2.4
Mean	2.1	11.2	1.8	31.3	1.5	43.4	1.8	2.2	11.5	1.8	29.9	1.4	51.4	1.8
LSD0.05	0.13						0.10	0.18						0.14

 

with no discernible differences. The host efficiency of M. javanica was positively impacted by the findings shown in Table 3. There was an inverse relationship between dilutions and host efficiency. NemaKick came after Velum Prime, which had the lowest reproduction factor at 1000 ppm by 1.1 and 1.0 with 50.0 and 58.3% reduction, respectively, in the first and second seasons. There was no statistical significance in any of these findings. Table 4 indicates that the lowest gall index was 1.0, with Velum Prime reducing it by 75.0% at 1000 ppm in the first and second seasons. NemaKick followed, with no discernible differences. The parameters of M. javanica are greatly affected by the type and concentration of the tested nematicides. Fluopyram was acutely toxic to M. javanica, resulting in the greatest reduction in nematode populations. In addition to eliciting pathogen death in cases of permanent cell damage caused by unusually low ATP levels, it prevents nematode muscle contraction, motility, penetration, and infection by inhibiting ATP generation (Schleker et al., 2023). Additionally, abamectin demonstrated high RF values and was successful in decreasing M. javanica populations, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing this root-knot nematode (Almeida et al., 2017; Otoboni et al., 2021; El-Marzoky et al., 2022). According to Faske and Starr (2006), it works by blocking glutamate-gated chloride channels in nematodes, which leads to an ionic imbalance in the nervous system, paralysis, and eventually death. The root-knot nematode (RKN) multiplication rate decreased by 88.3 and 86.1%, respectively, following the ethoprophos and abamectin treatments (Hajji-Hedfi et al., 2023). According to El-Nasharty and El-Sharnoby (2024), Nemakick and Tervigo reducing M. incognita characteristics such as the number of J2, root gall index, and host efficiency, also increased sugar beet crop quantity and quality.

Effect of the tested nematicides on yield parameters

A prime top yield of sugar beet was produced by the tested nematicides, as shown by the data in Table 5. Velum Prime clearly achieved a higher top yield of 16.7 and 15.5 tons/feddan at the concentration of 1000 ppm with increasing 99.2 and 117.1%, followed by NemaKick, with no discernible differences in the first and second seasons sequentially. As apparent from results in Table 6, the tested nematicides achieved the topmost root yield of sugar beet. Mostly, Velum Prime investigated a higher root yield of 23.8 and 23.4 tons/feddan at 1000 ppm in sequence in the 1st and 2nd seasons, followed by NemaKick without significant differences with a higher increasing percent of 46.9 and 40.2%. The gross sugar percentage was induced by all tested

 

Table 4: Effect of the tested nematicides on M. javanica gall index during 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Nematicide	Season 2022/23							Season 2023/24
	250 ppm	Red. %	500 ppm	Red. %	1000 ppm	Red. %	Mean	250 ppm	Red. %	500 ppm	Red. %	1000 ppm	Red. %	Mean
NemaKick	3.0	25.0	2.7	37.2	1.3	67.5	2.3	3.0	25.0	2.0	50.0	1.3	67.5	2.1
Tervigo	4.0	0.0	3.0	30.2	2.0	50.0	3.0	3.7	7.5	2.7	32.5	2.3	42.5	2.9
Smart - N	3.0	25.0	3.0	30.2	1.3	67.5	2.4	3.3	17.5	2.0	50.0	1.3	67.5	2.2
Velum Prime	3.0	25.0	2.7	37.2	1.0	75.0	2.2	3.0	25.0	2.0	50.0	1.0	75.0	2.0
Untreated	4.0	0.0	4.3	0.0	4.0	0.0	4.1	4.0	0.0	4.0	0.0	4.0	0.0	4.0
Mean	3.4	18.8	3.1	33.7	1.9	65.0	2.8	3.4	18.8	2.5	45.6	2.0	63.1	2.6
LSD0.05	0.39						0.30	0.35						0.27

 

Table 5: Effect of the tested nematicides on sugar beet top yield (tons/feddan) during 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Nematicide	Season 2022/23							Season 2023/24
	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean
NemaKick	11.2	33.3	14.0	80.8	15.9	90.1	13.7	11.0	42.9	12.8	95.7	14.6	104.1	12.8
Tervigo	10.3	22.6	10.7	38.1	13.0	55.2	11.3	9.5	23.4	10.1	54.2	13.0	81.5	10.9
Smart - N	11.0	31.0	12.1	57.1	14.9	77.5	12.7	10.7	39.0	11.8	80.2	13.0	81.8	11.8
Velum Prime	11.6	38.1	14.0	81.3	16.7	99.2	14.1	11.2	45.5	13.4	104.9	15.5	117.1	13.4
Untreated	8.4	0.0	7.7	0.0	8.4	0.0	8.2	7.7	0.0	6.5	0.0	7.2	0.0	7.1
Mean	10.5	31.3	11.7	64.3	13.8	80.5	12.0	10.0	37.7	10.9	83.8	12.6	96.1	11.2
LSD0.05	0.90						0.70	0.84						0.65

 

Table 6: Effect of the tested nematicides on sugar beet root yield (tons/feddan) during 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Nematicide	Season 2022/23							Season 2023/24
	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean
NemaKick	17.6	9.3	21.4	33.8	22.5	38.8	20.5	17.1	11.0	21.4	47.8	22.7	35.7	20.4
Tervigo	17.0	5.6	18.2	13.9	20.1	24.1	18.4	16.5	7.1	18.1	24.6	20.6	23.7	18.4
Smart - N	17.4	8.1	19.1	19.8	21.3	31.7	19.3	17.3	12.3	19.9	37.3	21.4	28.2	19.5
Velum Prime	18.3	13.7	21.8	36.7	23.8	46.9	21.3	18.0	16.9	21.7	50.0	23.4	40.2	21.0
Untreated	16.1	0.0	16.0	0.0	16.2	0.0	16.1	15.4	0.0	14.5	0.0	16.7	0.0	15.5
Mean	17.3	9.2	19.3	26.0	20.8	35.4	19.1	16.9	11.9	19.1	39.9	21.0	32.0	19.0
LSD0.05	0.95						0.73	0.92						0.71

 

Table 7: Effect of the tested nematicides on sugar beet gross sugar % during 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Nematicide	Season 2022/23							Season 2023/24
	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean
NemaKick	15.7	6.8	16.0	19.4	17.3	28.1	16.3	15.5	16.5	16.8	20.0	18.3	27.1	16.9
Tervigo	15.2	3.4	15.3	14.2	16.3	20.7	15.6	14.0	5.3	15.6	11.4	17.0	18.1	15.5
Smart - N	15.5	5.4	16.2	20.9	17.0	25.9	16.2	14.3	7.5	16.5	17.9	17.8	23.6	16.2
Velum Prime	15.9	8.2	16.9	26.1	18.0	33.3	16.9	16.0	20.3	16.9	20.7	19.1	32.6	17.3
Untreated	14.7	0.0	13.4	0.0	13.5	0.0	13.9	13.3	0.0	14.0	0.0	14.4	0.0	13.9
Mean	15.4	6.0	15.6	20.1	16.4	27.0	15.8	14.6	12.4	16.0	17.5	17.3	25.3	16.0
LSD0.05	0.55						0.43	0.43						0.34

 

Table 8: Effect of the tested nematicides on sugar beet yield (tons/feddan) during 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Nematicide	Season 2022/23							Season 2023/24
	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean	250 ppm	Inc. %	500 ppm	Inc. %	1000 ppm	Inc. %	Mean
NemaKick	2.8	16.8	3.4	59.8	3.9	77.9	3.4	2.7	29.4	3.6	77.3	4.1	72.5	3.5
Tervigo	2.6	9.2	2.8	30.0	3.3	49.9	2.9	2.3	12.8	2.8	38.9	3.5	46.0	2.9
Smart - N	2.7	14.0	3.1	44.8	3.6	65.8	3.1	2.5	20.8	3.3	61.9	3.8	58.5	3.2
Velum Prime	2.9	22.9	3.7	72.4	4.3	95.8	3.6	2.9	40.6	3.7	81.1	4.5	86.0	3.7
Untreated	2.4	0.0	2.1	0.0	2.2	0.0	2.2	2.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	2.4	0.0	2.2
Mean	2.7	15.7	3.0	51.7	3.5	72.3	3.0	2.5	25.9	3.1	64.8	3.7	65.7	3.1
LSD0.05	0.26						0.20	0.21						0.16

 

nematicides in the first and second seasons, as shown in Table 7. In the first and second seasons, respectively, the best gross sugar percentage values were 18.0 and 19.1% with Velum Prime at 1000 ppm, followed by NemaKick with rising 46.9 and 40.2%. Data in Table 8 can be contributing that the tested nematicides improved sugar yield compared to unsoaked seeds. The topmost sugar yield was 4.3 and 4.5 tons/feddan in the 1st and 2nd seasons in sequence, at 1000 ppm with Velum Prime and achieving the best increasing percentages with 95.8 and 86.0%, followed by NemaKick. Sugar beet seedlings may grow and yield more if their roots are shielded from M. javanica infestation for the first two weeks after sowing (Cabrera et al., 2009). According to Gohar et al. (2014), sugar beet seed treatment achieved the highest records in the field for root yield, leaf weight, and actual plant density. Nemakick and Tervigo increased sugar beet crop productivity and quality such as root yield and sugar yield (El-Nasharty and El-Sharnoby, 2024). Ethoprophos increased plant growth characteristics of sugar beet such as plant length, fresh weight, and shoot dry weight (Khairy and Abdelfatah, 2022).

Conclusions and Recommendations

The use of chemical nematicides to control root-knot nematodes, while they may be effective, is not registered for sugar beet or is not economical. Due to environmental concerns and worker welfare, their use is avoided when possible. Applying pesticides as seed treatment has become a popular approach of research because of the lowered risks and hazards associated with the handling and implementation associated with use and its economic feasibility. Use of seed treatments for controlling plant parasitic nematodes is a recent idea; however, as seen with many studies in different cropping systems, there is a lot of variability and inconsistencies associated with their use. Sugar beet seed treatments provided excellent early-season protection against M. javanica; this was reflected in the germination and plant growth stamina. So, these results pushed us to use the concentration of 1000 ppm in seed treatment with Velum Prime or NemaKick to get the topmost yield and best protection against M. javanica.

Novelty Statement

Sugar beet seed treatments provided excellent early-season protection against Meloidogyne javanica with lowered risks and hazards and uses low doses of expensive chemical nematicides.

Conflict of interest

The author have declared no conflict of interest.

References

Abdel-Motagally, F.M.F. and Attia, K.K., 2009. Response of sugar beet plants to nitrogen and potassium fertilization in sandy calcareous soil. Int. J. Agric. Biol., 11(6): 695-700.

Alcebíades, M.L., Galdino, L.G., Cnossen, E.J.N., Sodré Filho, J. and Alves, G.C.S., 2019. Utilização de método químico e biológico no manejo de Meloidogyne javanica na cultura de soja sob cultivo protegido. Encicl. Biosfera, 19(30): 630-639. https://doi.org/10.18677/EnciBio_2019B58

Almeida, A.A., Abe, V.H.F., Gonçalves, R.M., Balbi-Peña, M.I. and Santiago, D.C., 2017. Seed treatment for management of Meloidogyne javanica in soybean. Semina: Ciências Agrárias 38(5): 2995-3005. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2017v38n5p2995

Cabrera, J.A., Kiewnick, S., Grimm, C., Dababat, A.A. and Sikora, R.A., 2009. Efficacy of abamectin seed treatment on Pratylenchus zeae, Meloidogyne incognita and Heterodera schachtii/Wirkung einer Saatgutbehandlung mit Abamectin auf Pratylenchus zeae, Meloidogyne incognita und Heterodera schachtii. J. Plant Dis. Prot., 116(3): 124-128. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03356298

Desaeger, J.A. and Watson, T.T., 2019. Evaluation of new chemical and biological nematicides for managing Meloidogyne javanica in tomato production and associated double-crops in Florida. Pest Manage. Sci., 75: 3363-3370. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5481

El-Marzoky, A.M., Abdel-Hafez, S.H., Sayed, S., Salem, H.M., El-Tahan, A.M. and El-Saadony, M.T., 2022. The effect of abamectin seeds treatment on plant growth and the infection of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood. Saudi J. Biol. Sci., 29(2): 970-974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.10.006

El-Nasharty, M.E.A. and El-Sharnoby, H.M., 2024. Curtailment of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on sugar beet by using a novel strategy. Egypt. J. Plant Prot. Res. Inst., 7(2): 230-238. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejppri.v7i2.6

Faske, T.R. and Starr, J.L., 2006. Sensitivity of Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis to abamectin. J. Nematol., 38(2): 240-244.

Forghani, F. and Hajihassani, A., 2020. Recent advances in the development of environmentally benign treatments to control root-knot nematodes. Front. Plant Sci., 11: 557202. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.01125

Frye, J.W., 2009. Efficacy of novel nematicide seed treatments for the control of Heterodera glycines in soybean production. M.S. thesis, North Carolina State University, U.S.A., pp. 50.

Global Agricultural Information Network, 2024. Sugar Annual Cairo Egypt, EG2024-0011, pp. 6.

Gohar, I.M.A., 2003. The relationships between plant parasitic nematodes of sugarbeet and other soil fauna. Ph.D. thesis, Fac. Agric. Moshtohor, Zagazig Univ., Egypt, pp. 221.

Gohar, I.M.A. and Maareg, M.F., 2005. Relationship between crop losses and initial population densities of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in soil of sugarbeet grown in west Nubariya region. Egypt. J. Agric. Res., 83(4): 1315-1328.

Gohar, I.M.A., Abo El-Ftooh, A.A. and Agami, K.M., 2014. Evaluation of nematicide seed treatments for the control of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica in sugarbeet production. Minufiya J. Agric. Res., 39(6): 1841-1854.

Hague, N.G.M. and Gowen, S.R., 1987. Chemical control of nematodes, In: Principles and practice of nematode control in crops, (eds. R.H. Brown and B.R. Kerry). Academic Press, Sydney. p. 131–178.

Hajji-Hedfi, L., Hlaoua, W., Al-Judaibi, A.A., Rhouma, A., Horrigue-Raouani, N. and Abdel-Azeem, A.M., 2023. Comparative effectiveness of filamentous fungi in biocontrol of Meloidogyne javanica and activated defense mechanisms on tomato. J Fungi., 9(1): 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9010037

Harveson, R.M., Hanson, L.E. and Hein, G.L., 2009. Compendium of beet diseases and pests, second edition. Am. Phytopathol. Soc., (APS Press). https://doi.org/10.1094/9780890546598

International Seed Testing Association, 1993. Handbook of seedling evaluation. ISTA, Zurich.

International Seed Testing Association, 1996. International rules for seed testing. Seed Sci. Technol., 24: 335.

Khairy, D. and Abdelfatah, R.M., 2022. Efficacy of six commercial nematicides against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and their impacts on sugar beet plant growth and chemical constituents. J. Plant Prot. Pathol., 13(12): 295-301. https://doi.org/10.21608/jppp.2022.175643.1114

MSTAT version 4, 1987. Software program for the design and analysis of agronomic research experiments. Michigan St. Univ., M. S., U.S.A.

Oostenbrink, M., 1966. Major characteristics of the relation between nematodes and plants. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium of Nematology. pp. 8-10.

Otoboni, C.E.M., Guimarães, A.M. and Duarte, A.M., 2021. Abamectin (avermectin) effect in the suppression of eggs and juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita in suspension. Rev. Unimar Ciências 30(1): 1-8.

Schleker, A.S.S., Rist, M., Matera, C., Damijonaitis, A., Collienne, U., Matsuoka, K., Habash S.S., Twelker, K., Gutbrod, O., Saalwächter, C., Windau, M., Matthiesen, S., Stefanovska, T., Scharwey, M., Marx, M.T., Geibel, S. and Grundler F.M.W., 2023. Mode of action of fluopyram in plant-parasitic nematodes. Sci. Rep., 13: 13748. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40484-z

Taylor, A.L. and Sasser, J.N., 1978. Biology, identification and control of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species). North Carolina State University Graphics.

Taylor, A.L., Sasser, J.N. and Nelson, L.A., 1982. Relationship of climate and soil characteristics to geographical distribution of Meloidogyne species in agricultural soils. Cooperative Publication of Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University and United States Agency for International Development, Graphics, Releigh.