THE COMPINED EFFECT OF Heterorhabditis bacteriophora AND SOME PLANT RESIDUES ON Meloidogyne incognita INFECTING TOMATO PLANTS

Abstract

The effect of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Hb) (Poinar, 1975). solely or mixed with some plant residues were evaluated against root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Mi) in tomato under greenhouse conditions. One thousand IJs of Hb were applied simultaneously with 1000 Js of Mi to the soil with or without one of the plant residues (clover, sunn hemp, marigold, rice straw, and sawdust) in different three weights (0.5, 1 and 2%). The experiment lasted 37 days, and the variables were evaluated as: number of galls, females, immature stages and eggmasses per plant. Adding of EPNs alone affected Mi variables: (133, 100, 17, and 96 when compare to the control 143, 114, 22, and 99, respectively), but did not show any significant differences in the plant growth. Addition of EPNs and the plant residues improved both of the plant health and EPNs activity at the concentration of 0.5%: The effect of EPNs on numbers of galls and females were increased by the residues of saw dust, clover, and Rice. Marigold residue reported a little effect on the numbers of females and eggmasses. At the concentration of 1%, the effect of EPNs on galls, females, and egg masses improved by adding clover, marigold followed by sunn hemp. At the highest concentration of plant residues (2%), the best significant effects of EPNs were obtained by marigold followed by sunn hemp. The immature stages of Mi did not report any significant reduction all over the treatments.