Interaction of Bacillus subtilis with resistant and susceptible tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in the control of Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

This study was conducted under controlled conditions to investigate the response of two tomato cultivars and influence of the moment of application of Bacillus subtilis in the control of Meloidogyne incognita in tomato. The treatments consisted of susceptible and resistant tomato cultivars and moment of applying Bacillus subtilis before and after planting the tomato seedlings. Were evaluated plant growth, nutrition, nematode reproduction, colonisation and genetic diversity of the genus Bacillus spp. in rhizosphere and substrate. Inoculation of B. subtilis after planting reduced the number of nematodes and both moments of applications promoted reduction of M. incognita eggs in tomato roots. Inoculation of rhizobacteria increased the colonisation of Bacillus sp. in the rhizosphere of both cultivars. The integration of genetic and biological methods did not increase parasite control. B. subtilis inoculated after planting exerts efficient biocontrol against M. incognita reducing the nematode reproduction factor only in the susceptible cultivar.