Abstract
Use of biological control agents for managing phytoparasitic nematodes is a good choice for the development of safe and sustainable agricultural production. In this study a bacterium Bacillus cereus was evaluated as biocontrol agent against Meloidogyne javanica in tomato crop. The potential of B. cereus for the mortality of M. javanica J2s and egg hatch inhibition was tested in vitro. Transgenic strains (GFP-tagged B. cereus) of the biological control bacteria was developed and used for the analysis of tomato root colonization and confirmed through qPCR analysis. The host resistance induced by biocontrol agent was evaluated through split pot experiment and analysis of defense related genes. Finally, the efficiency of biocontrol agent to manage the M. javanica in tomato crop was investigated through pot and field experiment. Results showed that B. cereus can cause significant J2s mortality, egg hatch inhibition of M. javanica and successfully colonized the tomato roots. Through qPCR it was confirmed that the concentration of biocontrol agent in tomato roots increased with time. Results regarding split root experiment and analysis of host resistance related genes of tomato plant indicated that B. cereus effectively induced host resistance showing upregulation of resistance related genes. In green house and field trail, application of B. cereus resulted in significant decrease in egg masses and gall numbers on roots of tomato plants and increased yield and plant growth. The B. cearus was also investigated for the presence of emetic toxins and enterotoxin genes and none of the studied toxin genes have been detected. This study suggested that B. cereus can effectively control M. javanica in tomato and possibly other crops.
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