Evaluation of the control potential to root - knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita of Purpureocillium lilacinum 11BB strain

Abstract

Parasitic fungi are considered effective biological agents to control plant -parasitic nematodes. Based on morphology and ITS sequence, seven Purpureocillium lilacinum strains were isolated from 144 soil samples collected from Chau Duc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, and Dinh Quan district, Dong Nai province. After 96 h of culture in medium supplemented with casein, chitin, and tween 20, seven strains showed protease, chitinase, and lipase activity. In laboratory conditions, both 11BB and 11SN strains parasitzed 31 – 34% eggs and 58 – 62% eggmass, respectively. In greenhouse conditions, the 11BB strain decreased 79.0 - 80.3% of juveniles (J2s) and 77.4 - 79.7% of egg numbers on tomato plants as compared with the control. Results showed that the 11BB fungal strain could be used in control of root - knot nematodes.