Bio-efficacy of Trichoderma viride against the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in tomato plant

Abstract

In the present studies effectiveness of antagonistic fungi viz. Trichoderma viride were evaluated against Meloidogyne incognita on tomato. The application of T. viride significantly increased shoot weight and decreased root weight of tomato in a dose dependent manner. Doses of 6 gm/kg soil as soil treatment and 9x108 cfu/ml as bare root dip treatment showed maximum increase in shoot weight and decrease in root weight. On the other hand, the antagonistic fungi caused significant reductions in number of galls, egg masses, eggs per egg mass and reproductive factors of M. incognita in a dose dependent manner. The fungi caused the maximum reductions in these parameters at two highest doses of 6 gm/kg soil as soil treatment and 9x108 cfu/ml as bare root dip treatment. It is, therefore, concluded from the present evaluation that the indigenous isolates of T. viride have the potential to control M. incognita as both the treatments viz. soil application and bare root dip treatment.