Microbial management of phytonematode in medicinal and aromatic plants: An eco-friendly approach

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are cultivated worldwide and are used for various purposes including traditional herbal remedies in most of the developing countries like India. Medicinal plant parts are generally used as Ayurveda medicines across the country. Essential oils extracted from aromatic plants are used for aroma in perfumery and food industries. MAPs can support the livelihood of farmers since they collect raw material from the cultivated medicinal plants which can be used directly by the industries. Healthy and disease-free plant material is therefore essential for maintaining the quality of raw material derived from MAPs. However, MAPs cultivation is facing problems and both the quantity and quality of biomass are adversely affected by the damages caused by pests and pathogens including phytonematodes. Phytonematodes negatively affect almost every crop in the world. Current management practices are not enough to completely manage phytonematodes. Application of synthetic chemicals/ nematicides is limited due to environmental concerns. It is therefore crucial to develop additional management approaches through the application of environmentally benign tactics. A lot of research has been performed around the world, leading to valuable outcomes and remarkable findings capable of improving farmers’ income. This mini-review discusses recent findings on the application of beneficial microbes to manage phytonematodes in some of the important MAPs, Brahmi, Ashwagandha and Basil.