BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE, Meloidogyne javanica, BY FOUR ISOLATES OF Paecilomyces lilacinus AND AN ISOLATE OF Isaria farinosa ON TOMATO PLANTS

Antagonistic effects of four isolates of Paecilomyces lilacinus and an isolate of Isaria farinosa on root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica were examined under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. Root-knot nematode as well as fungal isolates were identified using morphological and species specific primers. Infection ability of different fungal isolates on the eggs of M. javanica and effects of fungal culture filtrates on egg hatching and mortality of M. javanica juveniles (J₂) were tested in vitro. Results indicated that nematode eggs parasitization percent by various fungal isolates and J₂ mortality as well as egg hatching inhibition of the culture filtrate of these fungi have variable effects ontarget nematode. P. lilacinus (isolate P3) showed more efficiency than the other isolates. In greenhouse experiment, effects of P. lilacinus and I. farinosa on tomato plant growth factors and nematode population were tested. Fungal isolates were propagated on sterilized wheat seed and mixed (0.5% w/w) with autoclaved soil. Four leaf seedlings of tomatos were transplanted into each pot and inoculated by4000 eggs and juveniles (J₂) after ten days. Pots were kept in greenhouse for two months. Results showed that P. lilacinus  isolate P3, P1, P4,and P2 and I. farinosa  had 65%, 44%, 42%, 29% and 23% nematode conrol, respectively, indicating a good potential of some isolates in reducing nematode population.