This study summarises the results of in vitro screening of the nematophagous activity of Stropharia rugosoannulata and Arthrobotrys oligospora. The tests were conducted with Meloidogyne hapla plant parasitic nematode juveniles placed into Petri dishes containing cultures of the tested fungal species. Immobilisation of the nematodes was observed after 4 and 24 hours. Both species of fungi showed nematophagous activity, however it was much stronger and faster in the case of S. rugosoannulata.

With the increasing importance of soilborne plant pest nematodes and the relatively recent phase-out of methyl bromide as a key soil fumigant, there is an urgent need for new fumigants with good nematicidal properties. Ethanedinitrile (EDN) is a promising fumigant and preparation because of its physical, agrochemical, and nematicidal properties. However, its efficacy against nematode pests of different crops under field conditions has not been fully validated and understood. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of two concentrations of EDN on the survival of northern root-knot nematodes (Meloidogynehapla) and on carrot yield and quality under field conditions. The evaluation was performed using naturally infested carrot plots, and EDN application to the soil was followed by covering the treated area with film. A high biological effect was observed for both EDN concentrations tested, with even the lower dose (30 g·m⁻²) being sufficient for M. hapla suppression. Positive effects of EDN application—likely due to EDN partial conversion into biologically available nitrogen in soil—on carrot root weight, in comparison with the untreated control, were also observed.

The Colorado potato beetle ranks as one of the most important potato pests, mainly due to its high feeding rate during all developmental stages, particularly third and fourth larval instar, and high fecundity. The effect of essential oil (EO) from anise (Pimpinella anisum L. [Apiales: Apiaceae]) prepared as conventional and encapsulated (EN) formulations on the mortality and antifeedant responses of young larvae of Colorado potato beetles was studied to evaluate the insecticidal and antifeedant effects of five concentrations of this EO and to assess the persistence of both formulations on potato plants. The EN formulation had a significantly higher residual amount compared with that of the conventionally formulated EO. Significantly different values of LC50 and LC90 (ppm) were established for the EO (LC50 = 1,700 and LC90 = 9500) and EN (LC50 = 3,100 and LC90 = 14,300) formulations. The effects of both P. anisum formulations (EO and EN) applied topically to Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) larvae were distinctly different from those observed with the contact treatment. At the highest concentration of 20,000 ppm, the mortality of the second instars of the L. decemlineata larvae did not exceed 25%. On the other hand, both tested formulations of P. anisum were highly effective when administered orally. The encapsulated EO formulation achieved a distinctly higher biological activity. Our results confirm that the EO from P. anisum, especially the encapsulated formulation, has high insecticidal properties that may lead to the development of new organic products for the control of Colorado potato beetles.

In this work, we report results of molecular and morphological analyses of a potato field population of Globodera (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) species, in Slovakia. Unexpectedly, our data show a mixed occurrence of two potato cyst nematode species, Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida, in this locality. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mixed occurrence of these economically important plant-parasitic species in the same locality in the Central Europe. In addition, this finding reinforces the possibility of the cross-hybridization between these two nematode species that might result in a generation of new genotypes.