Early and non-destructive detection of plant-parasitic nematodes is critical for implementing site-specific management in coffee production systems. This study evaluated the potential of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral and thermal imaging, combined with textural analysis, to detect Meloidogyne exigua infestation in Coffea arabica (Top & aacute;zio variety). Field surveys were conducted in two contrasting seasons (dry and rainy), and nematode incidence was identified and quantified by counting root galls. Vegetation indices (NDVI, GNDVI, NGRDI, NDRE, OSAVI), individual spectral bands, canopy temperature, and Haralick texture features were extracted from UAV-derived imagery and correlated with gall counts. Under the conditions of this experiment, strong correlations were observed between gall number and the red spectral band in both seasons (R > 0.60), while GNDVI (dry season) and NGRDI (rainy season) showed strong negative correlations with gall density. Thermal imaging revealed moderate positive correlations with infestation levels during the dry season, indicating potential for early stress detection when foliar symptoms were absent. Texture metrics from the red and green bands further improved detection capacity, particularly with a 3 x 3 pixel window at 135 degrees. These results demonstrate that UAV-based multispectral and thermal imaging, enhanced by texture analysis, can provide reliable early indicators of nematode infestation in coffee.

Nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne cause major losses in agricultural production worldwide. To identify potentially useful chemical structures for developing new nematicides, this study initially aimed to determine in silico  - using computationally efficient techniques - the protein target of chaetoglobosins A and B in these nematodes. This process led to the selection of the sodium-dependent serotonin transporter protein (SERT). The activities of SERT inhibitors were subsequently evaluated in vitro. The best result was obtained with paroxetine, which caused 50% mortality (LC50) in second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita at a concentration of 351.3 µg/mL. Under the same conditions, the commercial nematicide fluensulfone showed an LC50 of 39.3 µg/mL. In plant trials, paroxetine reduced the pathogenicity of M. incognita J2. Therefore, further investigation of SERT inhibitors holds promise for the development of new nematicides.

The application of herbicides in coffee agroforestry systems is increasing, yet the consequences for soil microbial suppressiveness against plant-parasitic nematodes remain poorly understood. We evaluated the impact of five herbicides – glyphosate, clethodim, flumioxazin, saflufenacil and pyroxasulfone – on the microbial-mediated suppressiveness of a herbicide-naïve coffee agroforestry soil against Meloidogyne paranaensis. In vivo bioassays quantified nematode infection in a model plant-tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. 'Santa Clara') through gall and egg counts per gram of root across two independent experiments. In vitro chemotaxis assays measured the behavioural attraction of second-stage juveniles (J2) to herbicide-exposed microbiomes. Bacterial community structure, alpha diversity, and beta diversity were assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, with LEfSe analysis to identify differentially abundant taxa. Saflufenacil and pyroxasulfone significantly increased gall and egg densities relative to the untreated control, whereas glyphosate and clethodim showed no significant effect. Microbiomes exposed to saflufenacil and pyroxasulfone attracted J2 (chemotaxis index > 0.6), whereas glyphosate-treated and control microbiomes were repellent. Sequencing revealed herbicide-specific shifts in bacterial community composition and diversity, with suppression-associated genera (Chitinophaga, Bdellovibrio, Ramlibacter, Thermomonas) depleted and xenobiotic-tolerant genera (Sphingomonas, Cupriavidus) enriched under saflufenacil and pyroxasulfone. These findings demonstrate that herbicide selection directly modulates the suppressiveness of soil microbiomes towards M. paranaensis, highlighting the need for microbiome-aware weed management strategies in perennial agroforestry systems.

Agriculture is fundamental to food security, but it faces challenges such as plant-parasitic nematodes, which cause significant economic damage. Chemical control, although effective, can lead to pathogen resistance, environmental impacts, and health risks. This study evaluated the proteolytic activity of three commercial protease formulations from Bacillus licheniformis (APP 1500, HPP, and HPF) in the control of Meloidogyne incognita in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Activity was measured at pH 8.0 and 50°C for 15 minutes. In the in vitro test, the following experimental groups were set up: negative control (water) and treatments containing the products at concentrations of 1% and 5% (w/v). In the greenhouse experiment, the treatments included the commercial protease formulations, a negative control (water), and a positive control (Vertimec®). The in vitro test showed a significant reduction in the number of eggs, especially at the 5% concentration: 42% (APP 1500), 70% (HPP), and 56% (HPF). In the greenhouse, all the enzymes significantly reduced the number of eggs and galls, with efficiency exceeding 80% for APP 1500 and HPP, and exceeding 90% for HPF, with no statistically significant difference compared to the chemical control. The tests also showed that the proteases’ catalytic activity is maintained even under high pH and temperature conditions. These results indicate that the enzyme products have promising potential as a sustainable alternative to chemical nematode control.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) are plant-parasitic nematodes economically important for several horticultural crops. RKN management is difficult and expensive, requiring approaches that consider ecosystem balance to maintain RKN population below damaging levels. Garlic cultivation and Bacillus subtilis BV09 (BsBV09) application effects on the integrated management of Meloidogyne incognita in lettuce crops were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in RKN-infested field with the following treatments: Lettuce monoculture (control), garlic monoculture, lettuce intercropped with garlic, each with or without BsBV09 application. Fallow soil and removal of infested roots were also performed. After performing the management practices, only lettuce monoculture was grown in all plots, maintaining BsBV09 in the respective treatments. RKN population was evaluated before implementation and at each harvest. Lettuce and garlic yield, income, and agroeconomic indices were evaluated. Garlic cultivation and BsBV09 reduced RKN population; root removal reduced the RKN population by 80

This study investigates the repositioning of Bioverm®, a veterinary product based on Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), as a biotechnological solution for controlling the plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita. We evaluated the isolated and synergistic effects of the fungus and its own crude proteolytic extract (CPE) on nematode eggs. Methods: Bioverm® was used as a biological control agent and as a substrate for CPE production via solid-state fermentation (SSF). In vitro assays compared active and denatured CPE (24 h at 28 °C) on M. incognita eggs. An in vivo greenhouse experiment (77 days) validated the suppressive potential of five groups: G1 (control), G2 (denatured CPE), G3 (active CPE), G4 (Bioverm®), and G5 (active CPE + Bioverm®) in infested tomato plants. Results: The active CPE exhibited a robust proteolytic activity of 146 U/mL, resulting in a significant 28% reduction in egg viability in vitro (p < 0.01) compared to the control. In vivo, all active treatments significantly outperformed the control; the highest suppression was observed in G3 (78% reduction in galls), followed by G4 (71%) and G5 (61%). Denatured CPE (G2) showed no significant effect, confirming that proteolytic enzymes are the primary drivers of control. Conclusions: Bioverm®, especially when combined with its proteolytic extract, is a highly effective, sustainable alternative for managing M. incognita. This demonstrates the potential of "One Health" product repurposed to enhance agricultural productivity and soil health.

Pathogen-suppressive soils are influenced by soil microbiota and can be lost by external inputs. We evaluated the stability of soil suppressiveness to Meloidogyne incognita and identified the culturable bacterial strains responsible for the exerted biocontrol. In soil previously characterised as suppressive to M. incognita, the culturable bacterial species involved in suppressiveness were characterised for their nematode biocontrol properties and taxonomically. Forty-two bacterial strains were isolated from suppressive soil, with 18 identified as having nematode biocontrol potential. Thus, isolated bacteria were responsible for the suppressiveness of the soil. The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced in the isolates, and six genera were identified: Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Leclercia, Paenarthrobacter, Pantoea, and Exiguobacterium. The M. incognita-suppressive soil was amended with 100 ppm of the fungicide cyproconazole, the antibiotic streptomycin, a Bacillus velezensis strain BMH, and commercial bionematicide and compared with the non-treated or autoclaved control. Each soil slurry was infested with 6000 M. incognita eggs, and the number of galls and eggs were evaluated 45 days after sowing. Streptomycin, cyproconazole, and B. velezensis amendments to suppressive soil disrupted microbial functions and increased the number of galls by 168, 86, and 32%, respectively, and the number of eggs by 273, 36, and 48%, respectively, compared to the non-treated soil. Commercial bionematicides did not affect soil suppressiveness. Therefore, external fungicide and bactericide disrupt the natural suppressiveness of the soil, with the latter being more damaging.

Nematodes from the Meloidogyne genus present a major challenge to agricultural progress, requiring control methods that are environmentally safe and human friendly. This study assessed the nematicidal effects of papaya latex and papain, both in vitro and in vivo, on tomato plants, targeting second-stage juveniles (J2s) and eggs of Meloidogyne javanica. The results demonstrated that papaya latex effectively increased J2 mortality, reaching 100% at the highest concentration (1%). In contrast, papain resulted in a maximum J2 mortality of 72% at its highest concentration (3.5%). Additionally, papaya latex consistently inhibited egg hatching, with an average reduction of 45% in the first experiment and reductions of 39% and 61.9% in the second experiment at concentrations of 1.5% and 3%, respectively. Similarly, papain suppressed egg hatching at all concentrations, leading to an average reduction of 44% in the first experiment and 55% in the second. In the first replication of the in vivo experiment with tomato plants, the highest concentration of papaya latex (4%) reduced M. javanica infectivity by 68% and reproduction by 89%. In the second experiment, this concentration reduced infectivity by 70% and reproduction by 80%. For papain, infectivity was reduced by 55% in the first experiment and 40% in the second. While reproduction did not differ significantly between treatments and the control in the first experiment, it decreased by 30% in the second. Further experiments showed that both papaya latex and papain effectively activated the plant defense system in tomato. Overall, these findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of natural compounds for sustainable nematode management.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) threaten global agricultural production. Bacteria that inhabit the nematode egg mass have not been well explored. Using a metataxonomic approach based on sequencing the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria communities associated with Meloidogyne exigua egg masses, we found significant differences in bacterial composition and diversity in the egg masses of symptomatic coffee plants compared with asymptomatic ones for the first time in field conditions. The families Pseudomonadaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Micrococcaceae, and Bacteroidaceae were more abundant in egg masses sampled from asymptomatic plants, and Chitinophagaceae, Glycomycetaceae, Micropepsaceae, Beijerinckiaceae, and Enterococcaceae were more abundant in samples from symptomatic plants. The genera Pseudomonas, Sphingobacterium, Flavobacterium, Corynebacterium, and Virgibacillus were found in greater abundance in egg masses from asymptomatic plants, and only Tumebacillus and Bacillus were significantly more abundant in samples from symptomatic plants. The reproduction and infectivity of M. exigua was tested in tomato plants. The reproduction index of M. exigua (nematodes eggs per gram of roots) was significantly lower when applying nematode inocula from asymptomatic coffee plants compared with inocula from symptomatic plants. The root weight of tomato plants infected with inocula from asymptomatic coffee plants was significantly higher than that of plants infected with inocula from symptomatic plants. However, there was no significant difference in the infectivity index (number of galls per root system) of tomato plants when inoculated with inocula from either source (P <= 0.05). This study showed a differential bacterial community colonizing coffee plants with different levels of nematode infections, which opens the door for future nematode biological control.Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Brazil is the largest coffee-producing nation in the world. Over 50

Root exudates mediate plant interactions in the environment, and they are affected by physical, chemical and biological factors. Biocontrol agents can modify root exudates and influence plant–pathogen interactions. In this study, we showed that lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ), a host of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita , produced root exudates that attracted the second-stage juveniles (J2s) of this nematode and garlic ( Allium sativum ), an antagonistic plant, produced exudates that repelled them. However, the application of a commercial product containing Bacillus subtilis on lettuce roots made the exudates repellent to J2s of M. incognita , whereas treated garlic exudates were as attractive to the J2s as untreated lettuce. The repulsive behavior of M. incognita to exudates of roots colonized by biocontrol agents is common; however, the attractiveness of treated garlic root exudates was unexpected and not previously reported for non-host plants. Chemotaxis assays also showed that the commercial formulation of B. subtilis was repellent to J2s of M. incognita . The metabolomic analysis conducted on these samples unveiled a combined total of 34 compounds. There was an elevation in the levels of amino acids and peptides in samples that were inoculated with the commercial product. Additionally, certain metabolites appear to be connected to chemotaxis. These metabolic changes induced by the commercial product are interesting for field utilization in a dual control strategy, where lettuce is protected against the nematode due to its repellence and garlic becomes attractive, but is not infected by the nematode.

Bacillus species are among the most studied and commercially exploited biocontrol agents of plant-parasitic nematodes. These antagonists may control nematodes by producing toxic or repellent substances, inducing systemic resistance in plants and disrupting nematode chemotaxis. Understanding the mechanism of action of antagonists increases the likelihood of success for microbiological nematicides under field conditions. Therefore, the objective of this work was to elucidate the mechanisms of action of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain BaNCT02 against Meloidogyne incognita. We assessed the potential of this strain for forming biofilm in roots and producing volatile and non-volatile toxic substances. BaNCT02 did not induce systemic resistance in tomato plants against M. incognita. Scanning electron microscopy and chemotaxis analyses revealed that the bacteria form a biofilm on soybean roots and 67% of second-stage juveniles of M. incognita are repelled by common bean roots treated with the antagonist. Additionally, BaNCT02 produces substances with toxic effects against eggs and juveniles of M. incognita, including volatile organic compounds such as 2-undecanone and 2-heptanone, as well as non-volatile metabolites like proteases and chitinases. The suppressive effect of these substances on hatching and mortality of juveniles varied from approximately 70% to more than 90%. We concluded that B. amyloliquefaciens BaNCT02 forms a biofilm on root surfaces and produces volatile and non-volatile metabolites with nematicidal and repellent effects against M. incognita.

Brazil is affected by the infection of gastrointestinal nematodes (Haemonchus spp.) because it causes subclinical diseases in small ruminants that directly affect weight and milk production and, in turn, generate a health risk for the animals. In the same way root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) is a serious disease, which parasitize the roots of tomato plants causing damage such as poor nutrient absorption leading to significant yield losses. In order to minimize the economic impact of these nematodes, it is important to establish new control strategies. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are two main mycoinsecticides used to control many orders of insects, such as Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. These fungi have the ability to produce extracellular enzymes, which play an important role to control in the pest infection process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of proteases and chitinases by the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae on different solid and liquid culture media and their application in vitro to the control of Haemonchus spp and Meloidogyne incognita. To achieve this goal, enzymes were produced under solid and liquid fermentation conditions to determine the highest chitinolytic and proteolytic activity of commercial two strain of B. bassiana (IBCB 66 and ESALQ PL63) and M. anisopliae (IBCB 425 and ESALQ E9) in liquid media: SDY broth, YPG culture medium, synthetic, and soluble starch with yeast extract. The solid media tested were: rice supplemented with whey and chrysalis flour mixed with rice. In addition, the nematicidal action of their extracts (containing concentrated enzymes and without fungal cells) was measured. The results showed that the best culture medium (p< 0.01) for protease was solid serum rice medium, with a value for M. anisopliae IBCB 425 of 52 U/mg, and for B. bassiana ESALQ PL63 the value was 36 U/mg, compared to all the tested media. On the other hand, for chitinase of M. anisopliae strain IBCB 425, the activity value was close to 0.60 U/mg. In contrast, for B. bassiana isolate ESALQ PL63, SDY medium was the best inducer for chitinase production, with a value of 0.90 U/mg. Regarding the nematicidal activity of the crude extracts, the reduction percentages were 58% for ESALQ PL63 and 100% for IBCB 425 in the case of animal parasites. For plant parasites, the reduction percentages were 19% for ESALQ PL63 and 71% for IBCB 425. Thus, the use of enzyme-rich crude extracts presents promising control options for pest control.

This study evaluated the nematicidal activity of the cell-free crude extract (CFCE) of Pleurotus djamor on Meloidogyne incognita under greenhouse conditions. The fungus was grown in a solid medium for 14 days in the dark. Distilled water was added to the medium, filtered, and centrifuged, and the proteolytic activity of the CFCE produced was measured. Three experimental groups were established: control group (distilled water), CFCE (denatured enzymes), and CFCE (active enzymes). The nematicidal activity of the extracts was assessed in vitro on second-stage juveniles (J2) and eggs of M. incognita, separately. Under greenhouse conditions, CFCEs were applied to tomato seedlings grown on substrate infested with M. incognita eggs. About the in vitro tests, the active CFCE showed a significant difference concerning the control group (p<0.05) according to the t-test, with a 22% reduction in eggs. On the other hand, about J2, both treatments showed a significant difference compared to the control (p<0.01) with a 100% reduction, but no significant difference between themselves (p>0.05). Similarly, the treatments in the greenhouse showed the same statistical behavior as the control (p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between them (p>0.05) regarding the number of eggs and the number of galls. The reduction in the number of eggs was 94 and 97 % and in the number of galls was 71 and 67% for denatured and active CFCE, respectively. This study points to the nematicidal action of metabolites on J2 and the activity of enzymes on M. incognita eggs.

Nowadays, numerous microorganisms have been identified as effective agents against plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) when applied individually. However, under field conditions, the combination of biocontrol agents is a desirable strategy to improve control efficacy against soil-borne pathogens. Since, as different biogents species possess different mechanisms, the combination of strains is an alternative to improve the biocontrol effects. The present study aimed to investigate in planta the efficacy of the association of two commercial bionematicides against M. enterolobii. Here, the combination of Purpureocillium lilacinum strain PL251 (PL) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strains D747 (Ba) simultaneously inoculated on cucumber roots, in Florida (USA) soil, significantly reduced (p<0.05) the number of eggs per gram of roots (84%) and gall index compared to negative control. Contrasting with the mixture, the application of each microorganism alone didn't show any difference to the negative control. In in vitro assays, the combined cell-free supernatants cultures of these microorganisms were also effectiveness on increasing Meloidogyne enterolobii second-stage juvenile (J2) toxicity and inhibit the eggs hatching. Also in in vitro assays, the chemotaxis of M. enterolobii J2 showed to be repellent to both microorganisms. M. enterolobii (J2) repellence was also obtained when root exudates of cucumber were simultaneously inoculated with both microorganisms. On the other side, the exudate of cucumber roots free of those microorganisms was highly attractive to the J2. Despite the notable toxicity of Ba's volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to M. enterolobii J2 compared to the control, the impact of VOCs from Ba alone was significantly more pronounced (P<0.05) when the combined microorganisms were examined. Hence, the enhanced nematode control observed in in vivo experiments is substantiated by the combined impact of the mixture.

Plants are constantly confronted with both abiotic and biotic stresses, significantly affecting plant growth, development, and ultimately reducing crop yield. These complex and dynamic stress factors constitute a significant challenge to global food security. Harnessing plant-associated microbiomes represents a key strategy for enhancing agricultural sustainability. In the current era, the field of plant microbiome engineering has acquired significant attention and holds vast potential to revolutionize novel agricultural management practices. Yet, many studies have primarily focused on addressing individual stressors, leaving the intricate interactions largely unexplored. Therefore, this work inquires into the classical and biotechnological and/or omic techniques to engineer plant microbiomes to overcome multiple stressors. Traditional methods such as soil amendments, selective substrates and organic agricultural practices for plant microbiome engineering, are evaluated. Other more direct and advanced multi-omics approaches, such as computational and synthetic biology, host genome manipulation, microbiome breeding and microbiome transplantation, are discussed. The combined effects of pathogen infections and abiotic stresses, with particular emphasis on drought stress, are also reviewed. In addition, the imperative role of plant-growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) as part of the resilient plant microbiome is also highlighted. Lastly, this work sheds light on the interplay between different organic agricultural and high-throughput advanced strategies, with the final goal of reshaping the plant microbiome and pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an important horticultural commodity all over the world, and its growth can be affected by root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). To keep track of plant behaviors, growers are using new technologies. In this paper, aerial images were obtained using a low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to gather crop information in a short time giving acceptable accuracy for decision-making in the field. Evaluations were done to check the flight height interference in the image's quality for lettuce mapping, and select the best one to estimate the effect of root-knot nematode incidence on lettuce growth. In a field infested with M. incognita, lettuce seedlings were planted in plots treated with bionematicide and control plots. Aerial images were obtained using low-cost UAV in four flight heights performed for five weeks, along with field measurements. Images were processed and used to calculate vegetation indices (VI) and vegetation cover (VC). After lettuce harvesting, nematode eggs were extracted from plants' roots and quantified. Plots treated with bionematicide showed no difference from the control plots in eggs number and lettuce growth. Differences in VI values between the flight heights were not consistent, suggesting that VI values could be affected by the lack of luminosity calibration in each flight condition. VC values calculated from field data presented strong positive correlations with VI and VC values from UAV image data, indicating that RGB images obtained by UAV can be used in the detection of diseases that affect plant growth, as well as following up harvesting time.

Soil cultivation may change the soil microbiome and alter interactions between plants and parasites. This work aimed to evaluate temporal changes in plant health, soil microbiome abundance and incidence of the emergent plant-parasitic nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii, in two soil fields with different agricultural uses. Soil samples were collected from a commercial tomato production field (agricultural soil) and a single-cultivation strawberry field (native soil) for two successive years. Tomato plants cv. Early Girl were grown in a greenhouse, and three groups of inoculums were used: Fusarium only, M. enterolobii only and Fusarium + M. enterolobii. After 45 days, plants were evaluated for growth parameters and nematode reproduction and soil bacterial assemblages were assessed using cultivation-independent sequencing methods (V3/V4 region of the 16S rRNA). Among both soil types, the average root fresh weight increased (56%), along with shoot fresh weight (82%) and fruit fresh weight (76%) in the second year. Moreover, there was an 80.5% decrease in eggs present per root system from the first year to the second. The relative abundance of bacterial assemblages from Year 1 to Year 2 changed for most of the top phyla (e.g., Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi) and genera (e.g., Bacillus, Streptomyces and Flavisolibacter). This study suggests that soil management and year-to-year variation can lead to a shift in overall bacterial assemblages, better crop yield and an overall decrease in nematode reproduction.

For a long time, chemotaxis in root-knot nematodes has received scant attention. In recent years, however, this topic has captured the attention of several researchers worldwide. Chemotaxis refers to the movement of living organisms towards or away from a chemical gradient. Second-stage juveniles (J2s) hatching from eggs are the only infective stage of Meloidogyne spp., and they locate their host through chemotaxis by sensing host-secreted chemoattractants. Despite its importance in the host location process, the structures and properties of compounds that are attractive to Meloidogyne spp. J2s are not well understood. This chapter will present a compilation of information on the attractiveness of volatile and non-volatile compounds identified in emissions from plant roots and microorganisms. The obstacles in chemotaxis studies, which include the characterization of compounds that attract or repel, the limitations of in vitro methodologies, such as Petri dishes filled with agar and the challenges of studies using soil, will be presented. On the other hand, the advances achieved in the recent years and how chemotaxis can be manipulated to manage these important soil-borne pathogens will also be discussed.

Background and aimsIntercropping non-host plants is usually a feasible practice to reduce root-knot nematodes (RKN) in agricultural soils. Here, the chemotaxis of non-host roots for Meloidogyne javanica, its development in the roots and the possibility to intercrop non-host plants with tomato or lettuce to control RKN were estimated.MethodsGarlic (Allium sativum), Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) were used as intercrops. Marigold (Tagetes patula) and tomato were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Root attractiveness was evaluated for RKN by growing seedlings or using extracted exudates of each plant root on Petri dishes. The effects of lettuce or tomato intercropped with non-host plants on M. javanica were investigated by growing two plants side by side in a pot and later estimating the RKN egg formation.ResultsThere was high attraction of second-stage juvenile (J2) by tomato and marigold roots, whereas J2 penetration was higher in roots of tomato than Madagascar periwinkle and marigold. The most attractive exudates were secreted from tomato and marigold followed by lettuce and Madagascar periwinkle. Most J2 in Madagascar periwinkle and marigold roots did not develop to adults. The number of eggs was reduced by intercropping tomato or lettuce with any of the tested non-hosts. The shoot growth of both crops improved when intercropped with Madagascar periwinkle, yarrow, or garlic.ConclusionMadagascar periwinkle, yarrow and garlic are novel model system plants to be used in the management of M. javanica, reducing RKN population and improving tomato and lettuce growth when intercropped.