Evaluation of Aspergillus species for the biocontrol of Meloidogyne javanica in mungbean

Abstract

Five species of Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. terreus, A. tamarii, A. niger and A. nidulans) were tested for parasitic and mycotoxic activity against Meloidogyne jauanica in laboratory and pot experiments. In a laboratory assay, A. terreus and A. nidulans parasitized M. jauanica females. Culture filtrate of A. niger markedly inhibited egg hatching and caused juvenile mortality. These toxic activities were retained when the filtrate was heated. The activities of A. niger were probably due to non-proteinaceous compound(s). In a glasshouse evaluation, conidial suspensions and the respective culture filtrates of some Aspergillus species significantly reduced soil populations of M. javanica and root galling and increased plant height and shoot fresh weight of mungbean. A. niger in combination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteriurn, significantly reduced root-knot development and nematode population densities, and increased plant growth.