Nematodes

Nematodes are microscopic worms that live in the soil. Most species are harmless or beneficial, but some parasitize tomato roots, impairing growth and the uptake of water and nutrients. Controlling them requires identifying the problem and combining good crop hygiene, removal of host weeds, resistant varieties or rootstocks, and crop rotation with true non-host plants. Under the right conditions, soil solarization can also be helpful, although varietal resistance does not work against every species or population of nematodes.