Use of mangrove for the control of Meloidogyne javanica in tomato

Abstract

Aqueous, methanolic and chloroform extracts of Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata (mangrove) caused significant (p<O.OS) mortality of Meloidogynejavanica juveniles. Methanol soluble fractions showed greater nematicidal activity than chloroform fractions indicating that active nematicidal compound(s) were polar in nature. Soil amendment with A. marina and R. mucronata, with or without the biocontrol bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Significantly (p<O.OS) reduced root-knot infection due to M. javanica in tomato seedlings under glasshouse conditions. The use of R. mucronata with P. aeruginosa also increased plant height and fresh weight of shoots.