ABSTRACT
In recent years, biofumigation has emerged as an effective non-chemical alternative to manage nematode pests. As originally defined, the term “biofumigation” demonstrates the suppressive effects of Brassicaceae plant family on noxious soil-borne pathogens and is specifically attributed to the release of biocidal isothiocyanates due to the hydrolysis of glucosinolates. The use of certain crops as biological fumigants ahead of crop production to manage soil-borne pests is receiving considerable interest in recent times. The crops that have shown the potential to serve as biological fumigants include plants in the mustard family (such as mustards, radishes, turnips, and rapeseed) and Sorghum species. Biofumigation by rotation crops or intercrops relies on root exudates of growing plants throughout the season, leaf washings or root and stubble residues. The efficacies for soil-borne nematode disease control were generally variable and inconsistent, a trend which seemed more salient with nematodes than with soil-borne fungi.
