NEMATICIDAL EFFICACY OF PLANT LEAVES AND PAECILOMYCES LILACINUS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, IN CONTROLLING MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA ON OKRA AND TOMATO

Authors

  • R. K. Walia
  • N. Nandal
  • D. S. Bhatti

Abstract

In a pot experiment, the addition of chopped fresh leaves of castor, eucalyptus or neem enhanced growth of okra with or without Meloidogyne incognita and castor was the best. The addition of Paecilomyces lilacinus without plant leaves increased plant dry weight and reduced root galling. However, the effect of the fungus was not discernible in pots in which plant leaves were also incorporated. The impact of the fungus was evident by increased dry shoot weight in the presence of castor leaves only. Among the plant leaves, castor was most effective in suppressing root galling. With eggs as inoculum, plant leaves alone failed to reduce the final juvenile population in soil; however, in combination with the fungus, it was significantly reduced. When juveniles were used as inoculum, the fungus was not effective, while plant leaves reduced their final population to below a detectable level. Fungus recovery at the end of experiment ranged between 1-3x10³ CFU per g soil when used in combination with castor leaves. In other cases, it was below the detectable level. P. lilacinus was not recovered from egg masses in any of the treatments. In a field trial involving the use of castor leaves and P. lilacinus on tomato, maximum increase (120% over untreated control) in yield was recorded with the addition of leaves at 6 kg/m². The fungus population stabilised around 3x10³ CFU per g soil, but it did not contribute towards enhanced yields either alone or in combination with castor leaves.

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Published

1999-06-15

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Section

Articles