Miryang City Strives for Effective Control of Root-Knot Nematode in Perilla Leaves

High Incidence of Pests and Diseases ... Solar Sterilization, Green Manure Crop Cultivation, and Chemical Treatment

Miryang City in Gyeongnam Province announced on the 2nd that it plans to produce and distribute 2,000 leaflets on control methods for root rot nematodes to support local Perilla leaf farmers.

Perilla leaves are the third highest-grossing crop in Miryang's agricultural income, with a gross income of 99 billion KRW. However, due to continuous cropping and poor soil management, the frequency of pest and disease outbreaks has increased in recent years.

Miryang City Makes Efforts for Efficient Control of Root-Rot Nematodes in Perilla Leaves.
[Image provided by Miryang City]

The root rot nematode parasitizes the roots of Perilla plants, causing root decay and blocking the supply of nutrients and water, which leads to stunted growth and a significant decrease in leaf yield. In particular, out of 390 pest and disease diagnosis requests made to the Agricultural Technology Center last year, 210 cases were related to nematode damage, highlighting the high frequency of occurrence.

The root rot nematode is extremely small and difficult to observe with the naked eye, and its damage symptoms are similar to physiological disorders, so many Perilla leaf farmers are often unaware of the damage. The longer the period of continuous cropping, the higher the infection rate, and controlling the nematode during cultivation is difficult.

During the summer fallow period, the density of nematodes in the soil can be reduced by cultivating green manure crops and using registered nematicides for Perilla leaves. Since the nematode is particularly vulnerable to heat, soil sterilization using solarization between June and August can reduce nematode density by over 80%. Covering the soil with plastic and applying quicklime and calcium cyanamide together can further enhance the control effect.

Shin Youngsang, head of the Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "We will do our best to improve the quality of Perilla leaves by providing guidance on root rot nematode control at major cultivation sites during the fallow period in July and August."