Abstract

Root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne spp. poses a worldwide threat to agriculture as well as environment due to excess use of chemical nematicides for its management. Recently, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have achieved importance as biocontrol agent for the managements of root-knot disease. In this aspect, the present study was focused on the effect of AMF (Glomus intraradices) against root-knot disease of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) caused by Meloidogyne incognita. Observations of G. intraradices against M. incognita were taken at 10, 20 and 30 days after M. incognita second stage juveniles (J2) inoculation on tomato roots, which were pre-colonized by G. intraradices. A significant effect was observed on plant growth (length and biomass) and nematode induced (root galls, egg masses, egg and adult females) parameters in nematode inoculated G. intraradices colonized plants as compared to non-colonized plants at all the three harvesting periods. The finding of present study indicates the potential of G. intraradices as a potential biocontrol tool for the management of root-knot disease and can be used in the place of environmentally hazardous chemical nematicides.

Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhiza, root-knot disease, nematicides, biocontrol, management.

Abbreviation

AMF, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus; C, control; DAI, days after inoculation; J2, second stage juvenile; M, mycorrhiza; MN, mycorrhiza nematode; N, nematode; PGPR, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria; RKN, root-knot nematode