~ 178 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2016; 4(6): 178-183 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2016; 4(6): 178-183 © 2016 JEZS Received: 24-09-2016 Accepted: 25-10-2016 Mehran Khan College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou-350002, China Saifullah Department of Plant Pathology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, P.O Box. 25130, Pakistan Ijaz Ahmad Department of Plant Pathology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, P.O Box. 25130, Pakistan Aqleem Abbas Department of Plant Pathology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, P.O Box. 25130, Pakistan Rifat Ali Khan Department of Biology, Ghent University, Belgium Correspondence Mehran khan College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou-350002, China 2151904001@m.fafu.edu.cn Effect of sugarcane molasses and ash on the organic management of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica in tomato Mehran Khan, Saifullah, Ijaz Ahmad, Aqleem Abbas and Rifat Ali Khan Abstract The research was conducted to find out the effect of sugarcane molasses and ash on the organic management of root knot nematodes under screen house conditions. Sugarcane molasses were used @ 10 ml/kg, 20 ml/kg and 30 ml/kg of soil and ash @ 10 g/kg, 20 g/kg and 30 g/kg of soil twenty-one days before transplantation. Both the organic amendments were found effective against root-knot nematode. However, sugarcane molasses was more effective than ash and showed better results in terms of shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry shoot weight of tomato plant. Both the amendments (i.e. the sugarcane molasses and ash) significantly reduced galls plant -1 (41.40 and 48.4), galling index (3.00), egg masses/plant root system (23.40 and 28.20), fresh root weight (12.24 and 14.34 g) and dry root weight (4.89 and 5.73 g). Molasses and ash also significantly enhanced fresh shoot weight (60.20 and 57.40 g), dry shoot weight (10.36 and 9.12 g), shoot length (83.80 and 75.20 cm) and root length (26.20 and 24.00 cm) of tomato respectively. Sugarcane molasses and ash have been found with no toxic effect on plants. Keywords: Organic management, root knot nematode, sugarcane molasses, ash Introduction In Pakistan, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important solanaceous crops. Tomato crop is very versatile and especially in developed countries, consumption of this crop is ever-increasing quite rapidly. A branded tomato extract, tomato is used for the treatment of high blood pressure. It is highly prized for its monitory gain and nutritional value especially for its richness in vitamins and minerals [1] . Tomato originated in South America and is widely cultivated in 140 countries of the world with an annual production of 150 million tonnes/hectares [2] . The world major tomato producing countries are China and USA followed by India and Turkey [3] In Pakistan, the total area under cultivation of tomato is 52 thousand hectares with the production of 0.5296 million tons, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shares an area of over 12 thousand hectares with a production of 0.2132 million tons [4] . This crop is attacked by a number of organisms such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes etc. The nematode is a very destructive pest of tomato which has caused much destruction to this important crop. Root knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp) is endo-parasitic nematode, economically important and has a large number of different species. Four important species of root knot nematodes (M. javanica, M. arenaria, M. incognita, M. hapla) are distributed worldwide and considered as major crop-damaging pests [5] . The average losses caused due to root-knot nematode infestation are about 20.6% in tomato but yield losses caused by root knot nematodes have been recorded from 20% to 33% [6] . Root-knot nematodes are obligate parasites and are capable of feeding inside the roots of over 2000 plant species, causing severe crop losses worldwide [7] . Heavy root galling are the characteristic symptoms of Meloidogyne spp. and got its common name root knot nematodes [6] . Cultural practices like crop rotation are used for controlling such diseases but in the case of soil borne pathogens these practices fail due to polyphagous nature of these parasites and can survive in soil for years. These parasites break the resistance of the resistant cultivars due to the introduction of virulent strains [8] . The existing management strategies can be improved by the development of organic agriculture [9] . Root-knot nematodes can be managed effectively by different means like chemical management, biological control agents and the addition of organic matter will decrease nematode population in the soil [10] . Synthetic chemical develops resistance in the pathogens and hazardous effect on the environment, today’s demand for