Abstract

The effect of two rhizobacteria, Pantoea agglomerans and Bacillus subtilis on parasitism of the root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne javanica on eggplants was evaluated in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The impacts of the bacteria application as seed treatment, root dipping, and soil drench on early nematode penetration into plant roots, as well as, on eggplant growth were tested. The number of penetrated second stage juveniles of M. javanica was significantly reduced after P. agglomerans and B. subtilis application at concentration of 108 CFU ml-1. P. agglomerans increased the eggplant fresh shoot and root weight following seed treatment. In the greenhouse experiment the bacteria were applied alone and in combination with a carbamate nematicide, Oxamyl (Vydate®). P. agglomerans was able to suppress M. javanica development into plant roots through a first half of eggplant cropping season. At the end of cropping season B. subtilis significantly reduced root gall index and number of nematode juveniles in soil and roots. This bacterium applied in combination with Oxamyl was the most efficient against M. javanica reproduction. Thereby, B. subtilis might be considered as a good candidate for biological or integrated control of the root knot nematodes. Key words: Bacillus subtilis, Pantoea agglomerans, biological control, plant growth, gall index, root knot nematode.

Highlights

  • Root-knot nematodes are one of the main problems for protected crops, especially in south-eastern countries of Europe where climatic conditions favour their development

  • The experiments showed that both tested rhizobacteria influenced the penetration of J2 of M. javanica into the eggplant roots (Table 1, P < 0.05)

  • Reduction of juveniles penetration following seed treatment, root dipping and soil drench ranged to 32.4, 32.0 and 44.6% for P. agglomerans and with 38.8, 27.9 and 66.8% for B. subtilis compared with the control treatments (Table 1, P < 0.05)

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Summary

Introduction

Root-knot nematodes are one of the main problems for protected crops, especially in south-eastern countries of Europe where climatic conditions favour their development. Crop losses due to Meloidogyne exceed 32% on tomato, 30% on melon and 20% on eggplant (Netscher and Sikora, 1990). Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a traditional vegetable crop grown in Bulgaria. One of the most frequently found root-knot nematode species on eggplant is Meloidogyne javanica, present alone or in combination with other Meloidogyne species. In Bulgaria annual crop losses due to M. javanica largely depend on vegetable crops, their resistance to the nematode and the methods of control that have been used (Samaliev and Baicheva, 2010; Masheva et al, 2016). Present strategies for nematode management involved some cultural practices such as crop rotations and resistant

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