Control meausres

Once Globodera spp. cysts are introduced in a field, there is no efficient curative control method.

Thus preventive methods must be used:

• planting in fields found to be free from potato cyst nematodes after soil analysis; o use of certified seed tubers;
• long rotations (not less than 4 years);
• control of groundkeepers;
• cultivar choice: numerous cultivars are resistant to G. rostochiensis. The type of resistance to G. rostochiensis involved is considered as “total” since there are no newly formed cysts after a growing season. For G. pallida, similar type of resistance has been very difficult to find so far; when present in a cultivar, resistance to G. pallida is referred to as “partial” because, after growing such cultivars in G. pallida-infested fields, there are still some newly formed cysts though fewer than on susceptible cultivars;
• soil treatments using nematicides lessen the impact of potato cyst nematodes on yield but do not completely prevent the development of newly formed populations;
• cultural practices like early potato production (as opposed to main crop) may limit newly formed populations by disruption of the Globodera life cycle thus limiting the formation of new cysts;
• other alternative methods have shown some positive results. Solarization - thermal destruction of the soilborne cysts - can be considered in favourable climatic areas. Catch (or bait) crops, involving planting the potato host - preferably a resistant cultivar - and destroying the crop before cyst formation may considerably reduce population densities if monitored by a nematologist expert.

A combination of these methods may help to keep the potato cyst nematode populations below the economic threshold levels.