Rhamnolipids: The Next Generation Multifunctional Biomolecules for Applications Against Μeloidogyne incognita in Tomato Plants

Plant parasitic nematodes are a global threat to tomato production due to severe damages they cause to roots. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rhamnolipids to control the nematode Meloidogyne incognitain tomato plants. It was applied as soil drench in soil naturally infested with the nematodes. The results showed that the number of small size galls was statistically less in the plants treated with fluopyram than untreated control or rhamnolipids. Plants treated with rhamnolipids had significantly less number of small size galls than untreated control. The number of medium size galls was significant less in plants treated with fluopyram than untreated control. Plants treated with rhamnolipids did not show any difference in the number of medium size galls than untreated control or fluopyram. No significant difference was found among all treatments in the number of big size galls although the plants treated with rhamnolipids or fluopyram had the tendency to show less number. Generally, this study demonstrated the potential of rhamnolipids (biological) to control M. incognita in tomato cultivars.