Abstract:
The present study was carried out in the Ghardaïa region in April 2025to assess the
impact of root-knot nematodes of the Meloidogyne spp. genus on local vegetable crops. The
main objective is to determine the level of infestation through the average gall index
(according to the Zeck scale) and the vigor index of affected plants, while identifying the
most sensitive crops and the most affected areas. Observations revealed a high degree of
infestation variability between crops and farms. Broad beans (Vicia faba) showed notable
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susceptibility in the berriane region (gall index between 0.60 and 1.10), while carrots (Daucus
carota) at farm N07 recorded the highest index (3.06), with plants totally destroyed (vigor
index 0). Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) at N'tissa (farm N06) also showed a high level of
infestation (index of 2.05), indicating severe damage.
At the same time, the study highlights the importance of promoting agricultural
practices such as crop rotation, trap crops and the use of organic amendments, with a view to
integrated pest management. The data collected provide an important basis for building more
efficient management strategies appropriate to local conditions. At the same time, they raise
farmers' awareness of the risks associated with the multiplication of these nematodes and of
alternative solutions to chemical nematicides, in favor of a more resilient and sustainable
agriculture.
