EFFECT OF CULTURE MEDIA ON SPORULATION OF PAECILOMYCES LILACINUS AND ITS EFFICACY AGAINST MELOIDOGYNE JAVANICA IN TOMATO

Abstract

Evaluation of different whole grain substrates fro the sporulation of Paecilomyces lilacinus revealed that the fungus sporulated profusely on maize, gram, oats, rice and wheat. Maximum numbers of spores/g were observed on rice (52.8 x 10[sup8]) followed by gram (24.5 x 10[sup7]). P. lilacinus cultured on gram seed was the most effective in reducing the gall index (78.6%) and second-stage juveniles of Meloidogyne javanica (94.2%) and increasing plant growth. Percentage of eggs destroyed by the fungus was maximum (58.6%) with the fungus cultured in gram.