Nematicidal Efficacy of Soil Fungal Isolates on the Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) of Tomato

Abstract

The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a polyphagous plant disease causing losses in a wide range of crops. Due to loss of effectiveness and environmental hazard of chemical nematicide, the search for new agents of control is becomes paramount. Therefore, nematicidal efficacy of soil fungal isolates on the root-knot nematode of tomato was carried out. Soil samples for the isolation of fungi and nematode were collected from the rhizosphere of botanical garden and nematode infested tomato farms. The fungi were isolated using serial dilution methods and extraction of nematodes was done using pie-pan method. The antagonistic effects fungi were assessed with potato dextrose broth as control. The results of fungi isolation revealed four fungi species; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulans, Penicillium chrysogenum and Rhizopus stolonifer. Nematicidal activity of the fungal isolate on the pathogen after 24 and 48 hrs results in percentage mortality range of 39.28 to 78.47% (A. niger), 29.12 to 57.49% (A. nidulans),18.59 to 47.48% (P. chrysogenum) and 8.05 to 26.43% (R. stolonifer) respectively. The finding study suggests that the soil fungi could serve as biological agent and alternative source to chemical control of root-knot nematode.