USE OF SARGASSUM SPECIES FOR THE CONTROL OF MELOIDOGYNE JAVANICA IN OKRA

Abstract

Brown seaweed Sargassum tenerrimum, S. swartzii and S. wightii inhibited juvenile hatching of Meloidogyne javanica and caused juvenile mortality in vitro. Soil amendment with S. tenerrimum, S. swartzii and S. wightii with or without biocontrol agents viz., Paecilomyces lilacinus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bradyrhizobium japonicum, significantly (P 0.05) reduced nematode infection in okra roots. Use of P. aeruginosa with S. swartzii or S. wightii showed greater plant height and fresh weight of shoot as compared to biocontrol agents or seaweed used alone.