Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are indeed one of the few plants that could be considered a bionematicide. They produce substances in the roots toxic to nematodes. However, they primarily affect nematodes by acting as a trap crop, allowing the nematode to enter the roots and then killing them. Most marigolds are effective against the southern root-knot nematode, which is one of the most common nematode pests. Don't use the Signet types (Tagetes tenuifolia, very small flowers), since these will not give satisfactory results. If you would like more information on Soil Nematodes, visit the eXtension web site.
