The last few years have witnessed the emergence of alternative measures to control plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs). We briefly reviewed the potential of compost and the direct or indirect roles of soil-dwelling organisms against PPNs. We compiled and assessed the most intensively researched factors of suppressivity. Municipal green waste (MGW) was identified and profiled. We found that compost, with or without beneficial microorganisms as biocontrol agents (BCAs) against PPNs, were shown to have mechanisms for the control of plant parasitic nematodes. Compost supports a diverse microbiome, introduces and enhances populations of antagonistic microorganisms, releases nematicidal compounds, increases the tolerance and resistance of plants, and encourages the establishment of a “soil environment” that is unsuitable for PPNs. Our compilation of recent papers reveals that while the scope of research on compost and BCAs is extensive, the role of MGW-based compost (MGWC) in the control of PPNs has been given less attention. We conclude that the most environmentally friendly and long-term, sustainable form of PPN control is to encourage and enhance the soil microbiome. MGW is a valuable resource material produced in significant amounts worldwide. More studies are suggested on the use of MGWC, because it has a considerable potential to create and maintain soil suppressivity against PPNs. To expand knowledge, future research directions shall include trials investigating MGWC, inoculated with BCAs.

Fusarium spp. is a well-studied pathogen with the potential to infect cereals and reduce the yield to maximum if left unchecked. For decades, different control treatments have been tested against different Fusarium spp. and for reducing the mycotoxins they produce and are well documented. Some treatments also involved integrated pest management (IPM) strategies against Fusarium spp. control and mycotoxin degradation produced by them. In this review article, we compiled different control strategies against different Fusarium spp. In addition, special focus is given to the non-thermal plasma (NTP) technique used against Fusarium spp. inactivation. In a separate group, we compiled the literature about the use of NTP in the decontamination of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp., and highlighted the possible mechanisms of mycotoxin degradation by NTP. In this review, we concluded that although NTP is an effective treatment, it is a nice area and needs further research. The possibility of a prospective novel IPM strategy against Fusarium spp. is also proposed.

Two neem-derived pesticides were examined under in vitro and in vivo conditions to test their efficacy in controlling Plasmopara halstedii pathotype 704, a causal agent of downy mildew in sunflower. All the tested concentrations of neem leaf extract and the highest concentration of commercial neem product significantly reduced the sporangial germination under in vitro conditions. In in vivo experiment, 3-days old pre-treated seedlings with both concentrations of neem leaf extract and the highest concentration of commercial product showed a significant reduction in the infection indicating possible systemic effect of neem. When the seedlings were treated following the infection with P. halstedii (i.e., post-treatment), only the highest concentrations of neem leaf extract and the commercial product showed a significant reduction in the infection indicating curative effect of neem. Possibilities for the control of P. halstedii with neem-derived pesticides are discussed.

Over the last decade, more and more attention has been paid to applications of non-thermal plasma in agriculture, where it is used to decontaminate various microorganisms and to improve the seed germination. In this study, we present the results of a newly developed point-to-ring NTP transient spark discharge apparatus (NTP), plasma activated water (PAW) and their combined treatment on Durum wheat and Common wheat grains under laboratory conditions. Transient spark discharge treatment was used as direct treatment while indirect treatment of wheat grains was performed by PAW produced in point-to-plane NTP transient spark apparatus. We found that the degree of grain surface decontamination was in order NTP > PAW > combined treatment. In the case of Durum wheat grain germination, all treatments increased germination with increasing exposure times, while in the case of Common wheat, PAW treatment and combined treatment did not significantly increase the grain germination. In conclusion, plasma treatment has enormous potential for use in agriculture and its possibilities need to be fully explored.

Lethal effects of neem derived pesticides (neem leaf extract (NLE) and NeemAzal-T/S (NA)) were examined on different entomopathogenic (EPN) and slug-parasitic (SPN) nematodes. In our recent study, neem derived pesticides were tested against Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita for the first time under in vitro conditions. Laboratory experiments were set up in 96-well microplates with different concentrations of NLE (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1%) and NA (0.001%, 0.003%, 0.006%, and 0.01%) and Milli-Q water as the control. After 24-h exposure time, mortality of individual nematodes was observed and recorded. Considering LC₁₀ values, 0.1% of NLE could be used safely in combination with all the EPNs and SPNs tested in recent study. A concentration of NA three times higher than the recommended dosage did not harm either EPN or SPN species. In conclusion, NeemAzal-T/S might be applied with EPNs and the SPN Ph. hermaphrodita simultaneously, while the compatibility of neem leaf extract and beneficial nematode products needs further evaluation.

Neem-based products have gained major attention over the last few years due to their wide range of applications in pest management, and have been in the focus of biological plant protection research in the past decade. Yet, there is limited information available to understand the side effects of these neem-derived pesticides on non-target species in soil. Therefore,Porcellionidespruinosus, a terrestrial isopod, was chosen as a non-target species to investigate such possible effects. Two different experiments were conducted to study two different neem-derived plant protection products, i.e., NeemAzal T/S (1% azadirachtin) which is a commercial product registered in the EU, and neem leaf extract from dried neem leaves (1%).The latter simulates the plant protection product, is domestically produced, and widely used by farmers in India and other tropical and subtropical countries. Findings are consistent with previous results obtained with other non-target organisms, i.e., neither of the tested neem products have adverse effects on the mortality ofP.pruinosus. However, further research on a wider range of soil organisms is needed to prove the safety of neem-based products as biological control agents and to be part of integrated pest management.