Observations on the interaction between plant growth-promoting bacteria and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica

Abstract

Pseudomonas fluorescens, strains L124, L228, L321, and the positive control strain F113 used in this study, produce compounds associated with plant growth promotion, biocontrol, antimicrobial and antiviral activity, and adaptation to stresses. These bacterial strains were tested in vitro and in vivo in tomato plants, to determine their potential role in Meloidogyne javanica suppression. In laboratory experiments, only 2% of M. javanica eggs hatched when exposed to the metabolites of each bacterial strain. Additionally, 100% M. javanica J2 mortality was recorded when nematodes were exposed to the metabolites of F113 and L228. In greenhouse experiments, M. javanica infected tomato plants, which were also inoculated with the bacterial strains F113 and L124, displayed the highest biomass (height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight) of all bacterial treatments tested. Results from the development and induced systemic resistance experiments indicated that the bacterial strains F113 and L321 had the most effective biocontrol capacity over nematode infection, delayed nematode development (J3/J4, adults and galls), and reduced nematode fecundity. In addition, these results indicated that the bacterial strain L124 is an effective plant growth promoter of tomato plants. Furthermore, it was determined that the bacterial strain L321 was capable of M. javanica biocontrol. P. fluorescens F113 was effective at both increasing tomato plant biomass and M. javanica biocontrol. In an agricultural context, applying successional drenches with these beneficial plant growth promoting rhizobacteria would ensure bacteria viability in the rhizosphere of the plants, encourage positive plant bacterial interactions and increase biocontrol against M. javanica.