The nematicidal efficacy of fulvic acid, yeast fungus (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and L-tryptophan on plant parasitic nematodes, growth, and yield of banana plants

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted during seasons of 2019 & 2020 to evaluate the efficacy of fulvic acid, yeast fungus ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) and the amino acid L-tryptophan singly or in combination (fulvic acid + yeast + tryptophan) against the root knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) on banana plants in compared with oxamyl. The obtained results indicated that fulvic acid, yeast and tryptophan alone or in combination were the most effective treatments against the soil populations with reductions ranged from 42.1 to 58.4% during both seasons (2019&2020). In the same context, application of fulvic acid, yeast and tryptophan alone or in combination were recorded the highest reductions in females (ranged from 45.0 to 80.0%), egg masses (ranged from 39.1 to 86.1%) and root galls (ranged from 20.0 to 80.0%) during both seasons (2019&2020). On the other hand, vegetative and fruiting indices such as pseudostem and bunch weight, as well as fingers number and weight were improved with the application of fulvic acid, yeast and tryptophan alone or in combination. Furthermore, total carbohydrates and the levels of N, P and K were increased during both seasons significantly.