Abstract

POTENTIAL FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF NEMATODE BY TRICHODERMA SPP., AND ITS EFFECT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS

Rushda Sharf* and Hisamuddin

Abstract

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is one of the important pathogen of Phaseolus vulgaris (red kidney bean) plant in India. Biological control is a very useful method for managing the root-knot disease. The experiments were conducted to examine the morphological difference between Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride, and to determined in vitro nematicidal activity of Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride on M. incognita and their effect against the M. incognita on P. vulgaris. Both biological control agents displayed nematicidal activity but the highest approximately 69.58% egg infection was observed with T. harzianum than untreated control. Under the pot conditions, compared to untreated control, the application of different doses of T. harzianum and T. viride significantly stimulated the plant growth in terms of shoot and root length and weight, leaf area, yield, chlorophyll, NRA. Fungal biocontrol agents reduce the nematode population in terms of number of eggs per root system as compared to nematode inoculated control. The result indicated that the sufficient dose of T. harzianum show the strong parasitic activity against M. incognita, than T. viride.

Keywords: Biocontrol agents, Meloidogyne incognita, Phaseolus vulgaris, Root-knot disease, Trichoderma spp.