Evaluación del efecto de la aplicación de nematicidas en el cultivo en tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.) bajo condiciones controladas realizado en la parroquia Izamba del cantón Ambato

Abstract

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a significant part of the agricultural sector, considered one of the most important crops worldwide due to its high supply and demand, a result of its popularity in consumers' daily diets. Nematode infestation in the crop causes root galls and hypertrophy. This problem leads to consequences such as impaired nutrient transport and water absorption, resulting in chlorosis, a stunted vegetative growth that reduces yield and productivity. This study was conducted using a completely randomized block design (CRD) in a 2x3+1 factorial arrangement with 3 replicates. The objective was to evaluate the effect of applying two nematicides to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under controlled conditions and to determine the most appropriate application frequency. The application of Microcat Gold treatments at frequencies of 7, 14, and 21 days resulted in a significant decrease in nematode infestation. Plants went from having moderately sized galls, root affected, causing economic damage, to plants with very small or very slight galls. Treatments with Nemagro at all three frequencies also showed a decrease in infestation, from plants with large and numerous galls, more than half of the root affected, to plants with mostly small galls. The control group remained unchanged, with large and numerous galls, more than half of the root affected. It was concluded that nematode populations decreased with the application of Microcat Gold and Nemagro due to their nematicidal properties and their root-strengthening effect, resulting in better average values for the studied variables in these treatments. It was determined that in the nematicide treatments, damage was less at the end of the experiment, with the damage scale corresponding to the presence of very slight or small galls. Nematicide applications every 7 and 14 days yielded better results, indicating less infestation in plants that received applications at those intervals.