Determination of the efficacy of two local Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill, 1912 (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) isolates (Bb-1 and Bv-1) against root-knot nematodes

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes cause economic damage to various agricultural products, especially vegetables globally. Due to the adverse effects of pesticides on the environment and human health, entomopathogenic fungi are one of the biological control agents used in pest control. In this study, the effects of two different local isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill, 1912 (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) (Bb-1 and Bv-1) at 106, 107, and 108 CFU ml-1 concentrations were investigated against Meloidogyne incognita race 1 (Kofoid and White, 1919) and Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) on tomato plants. Sixty days after the nematode inoculation, the number of egg packs formed in each plant, plant height (cm), wet plant weight (g), dry plant weight (g), and wet root weight (g), and root dry weight (g) were determined. According to the results, Beauveria bassiana Bb-1 and Bv-1 isolates significantly reduced the reproductive ability of root-knot nematodes. In both isolates, 108 CFU ml-1 concentrations were more effective against M. javanica and M. incognita race1 than other concentrations. Bb-1 isolate is more effective than Bv-1 isolate against M. javanica. On the other hand, the Bv-1 isolate is more effective than another isolate against M. incognita race 1. Entomopathogenic fungi (Bb-1 and Bv-1) are a promising long-term biocontrol strategy in agriculture against root-knot nematodes.