Abstract

The objective this study was to investigate the effect of use of Bacillus subtilis to control nematodes, considering the hypothesis that the efficacy and persistence of biological control is equivalent to chemical control with respect to the community of Meloidogyne spp. and Pratylenchus zeae in soil during the growth of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). For this study, soil was collected from cultivated area of sugarcane with a history of nematode infestation. The following treatments were established: control, B. subtilis (AP-3), B. subtilis (PRBS-1) and chemical nematicide (carbofuran). Evaluations of nematodes in soil were taken in intervals of 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days, respectively after planting. The application of B. subtilis in the soil caused the reduction of nematode reproduction factor evaluated in the soil, but also reduced the presence of nematodes in the final evaluation in the roots of sugarcane, similar to chemical treatment (carbofuran). In this study, it was concluded that biological treatment was equivalent to the chemical treatment on the efficacy of nematode control on sugarcane. The persistence of suppressiveness in Meloidogyne spp. and P. zeae provided by the treatments with B. subtilis and carbofuran was confirmed during the study.

Key words: Pratylenchus, Meloidogyne, Saccharum spp., Bacillus, Carbofuran.